Moors fell to frustrating defeat at St James’ Park as goals from Fin Roberts and DJ Sturridge cancelled out Jack Jenkins’ strike and secured all three points Brackley Town.

Roberts opened the scoring with a well placed strike into the bottom right corner from close range, before Jenkins levelled things 18 minutes later. However, a 2nd half strike from Strridge condemned Moors to defeat.

Moors were forced into some good defensive work in the opening stages, as Frankie Whelan got across to brilliantly stop Roberts’ run down the left hand side.

The hosts found the lead with just 18 minutes on the clock, as Roberts fired home. A great run from O’Shea Ellis saw him break into the box from the right hand side, avoiding a few challenges on the way. The number 17 found the time to cut the ball back for Roberts, who tucked home into the bottom right corner past Matt Urwin.

Moors looked to spring forward on the counter following a poor corner from Brackley, as Rob Ramshaw carried the ball down the right channel. The midfielder looked to slip a ball through for the run of Danny Johnson, but saw the pass cut out by Harrison Rhone.

Both sides saw half chances come and go, first for Brackley as Kieran Coates saw his powerful effort fly over the bar, before a Moors ball into the area was claimed by Rhone.

Peter Hartley’s men found their equaliser with nine minutes of the first half remaining, as Jenkins capped off an incredible run with a goal. Jenkins picked the ball up just inside the Host’s half, before bursting forward, avoiding challenges, and finding space inside the area to strike. His low effort curled away from Rhone and found the bottom left corner.

Urwin was made to produce an incredible save just four minutes after, as Ellis struck an effort from close range. The forward shook off challenges from Moors defenders inside the area, before firing an effort on goal, which Urwin somehow managed to palm wide with an incredible reaction.

An impressive sliding challenge from Ben Pollock on his 100th Moors appearance thwarted Roberts’ attempt at a second of the afternoon just before the break.

The hosts thought they’d re-taken the lead just shy of the hour mark when Roberts found the net from just inside the 18-yard box, but the linesman’s flag had long sicne been raised for offside.

Brackley did go on to find their second with 22 minutes of the second half remaining, as Sturridge made an instant impact off the bench. Good work from the hosts saw the ball worked to Sturridge inside the area, following what looked like a foul on Coates.

Shouts for a penalty were quickly subdued however, as Sturridge found the net himself from a tight angle.

Two of Moors’ substitutes saw their efforts go begging as time began to run out, as Darren Palmer and Finlay Holcroft both saw their strike from the edge of the area fail to hit the target.

Moors had one last throw of the dice late on in the form of a Jenkins corner. His initial ball in found Glen Taylor at the front post, who saw his snapshot blocked. Jenkins recovered the ball before floating a ball towards Pollock at the back post, his header fell to Ben Beals who had a haded effort claimed by Rhone.

Full time: Brackley Town 2 Spennymoor Town 1

Moors: Urwin, Whelan (Young 75), Beals, Pollock, Cantrill, Jenkins, Dolan (Palmer 62), Murray (Holcroft 62), Ramshaw, Johnson, Taylor

Subs not used: James, Marsh, Miller, Raine

Booked: Whelan 45, Johnson 76

Referee: Grace Lowe

Attendance: 660 (35 Away)

Written by Noah Betts