Brackley Town beat Southend United 3-2 in a match that twisted sharply in the final quarter-hour after the visitors had looked capable of pulling level.
The home side took control just before the interval with three goals in four minutes. R. Haynes opened the scoring on 38 minutes, Josh Walker added a second two minutes later, and Matt Lowe completed the burst on 42 minutes to send Brackley into the break with a commanding lead. Southend had offered little to suggest they deserved more, and the scoreline at half-time felt an accurate reflection of the contest.
The second half changed the complexion of the game. Danny Newton pulled one back for Southend on 49 minutes, and Zak Brown equalised on 63 minutes to set up a tense closing period. Suddenly Brackley looked uncertain where they had earlier looked assured.
The home side steadied themselves, however. Charley Kendall and Tom Hopper were both involved in attacking moves around the 77th minute, and Connor Hall restored the advantage on 87 minutes, with Ben Wodskou also making an appearance late on. Sam Austin and James Golding entered the fray for Southend in the closing stages as the visitors pushed for an equaliser, but Brackley held firm.
Southend will feel the first half cost them. Once Brackley had established their three-goal cushion, the visitors were always chasing the game rather than shaping it.
Recap generated from the event timeline. Editorial team review by request. How we use AI.
