After the long trip to Gateshead proved to be a fruitless one, Andy Peaks’ Lambs returned home for a sundrenched Bank Holiday Monday after fixture, welcoming the third promoted side to appear at the Altair Group Community Stadium in quick succession. The Saints had come up from the National League North as 2024-25 champions ahead of Scunthorpe United and sat ahead of The Lambs at kick off with two wins and a loss from their opening three games.
Peaks made four changes to the side that started two days previously as Tyler Roberts and Matt Curley sat out while Joe Riley and Jordan Ponticelli took spots on the bench for Tom Tonks, Harvey Sayer, Stefan Mols and Kwaku Donkor.

Brackley kicked the game off towards the Castle End and on 3, Pollock stole in and chested the ball towards goal a few yards out forcing Singh it a reactionary save to his left to push the ball away and behind for a corner which Singh plucked out of the air.
Tonks was then booked for a foul on Roberts on the left on 5 and from the deadball Lilly tried a snap shot which troubled the fans behind the goal more than Singh.
And after great tenacity down the left by Enoru and Mols the ball flicked up for a half chance for Sayer 18 yards out on the edge of the D. He battled past his marker, forced Gregory into a stop which came back to him, and with defenders closing in he prodded it home from 12 yards to the delight of the home faithful. (1-0. 9 mins)
A long Tonks throw on 12 was cleared and a Sayer cross from the right on 14 whipped just past Duku and was touched behind for a corner as The Lambs went in search of a quick second goal.
Byre was penalised for a challenge on Mols from Fairlamb’s pass from the halfway line on 20 giving Tonks the deadball in the left channel, and Digie got his head to it, setting up Hollis on the turn to strike on target.
Gregory made a smart save to deny the goalbound effort and force a corner before play was temporarily stopped while a spectator assistance / treatment in The Shed. And from the flagkick, Digie rose high but was unable to glance his header at Gregory.
After doing all the hard work to beat two defenders in the left of the box Enoru’s cross was too long but Sayer picked it up and helped pen the visitors back a little longer.
The countered through Roberts on the left who beat Tonks into the box and drilled it low for Hobson to strike on target from 12 yards, only to be denied by Singh.
Enoru was denied by the intervention of a defensive block after he turned his marker inside out again on 32. And on 38 he made a similarly strong run to the edge of the box before being upended, handing the freekick to Sayer but he was off target with his effort.
Enoru and Sayer combined over both sides of the pitch to feed Donkor and Mols to earn a corner on the right on 44 but there was a push in the box as the ball came in and Duku’s header, had it gone it, would not have counted.
Five minutes added time was shown as Pollock clashed with Singh on the edge of the area leaving the Lambs keeper needing treatment before play could continue and the half ended without further incident.

HT: 1-0
 
With the sun continuing to beat down on The Lamb, Tamworth restarted the game, attacking the Castle End in the second half.
After a foul not given on Duku on the halfway line, Brackley were able to continue playing and Roberts picked up the ball in the centre circle advanced a few paces and fired home from 30 yards with a low shot that crept past Singh’s right hand upright. (1-1, 53 mins)
Enoru went on one of his mazy runs from the left into the centre ahead of the box and found Dean in his way who was duly booked for the blocking tackle.
A long kick from Hollis was nodded on by Enoru for Duku to latch onto but he the ball was taken off his toes by Morrison for a corner on the left, which Gregory caught at his near post.
Both sides made two changes around the hour mark with a clear and immediate attacking intention from The Lambs bench.
Bates was booked for a challenge on Roberts on 63 and Lyttle’s freekick into the box made the Lambs work to clear their lines and substitute Donowa’s first touch was the resulting long throw which eventually made it’s way to Singh.
Rye replaced Donkor on 68 after the right back needed treatment on the field, and a drinks break on 70 allowed the players to replenish their fluids and when play restarted Tonks' long throw caused problems in the box and Gregory came off worst, needing a minute to recover.
One time Lamb Waldron came on for the visitors on 76 and headed at Singh with from a well placed cross on 78, and when The Lambs broke on 81 Enoru tried to go past Brown down the left and appeared to be brought down, although the referee had waved play on, although both players needed treatment on the field.
And with both players waiting to come back on, The Lambs attacked but it came to nothing.
Two more Lambs subs came on 85 and Ponticelli forced a corner on the right from McGlinchey’s through ball but Roberts went down and needed treatment before the flagkick.
An almost expected eleven minutes added time was shown at the end of the game and it continued in the same disjointed manner as decisions were questioned by both sides of the crowd.
Enoru forced Gregory into a one handed parry of his low strike on 97 and as the ball bobbled around on 98, Digie followed up with a powerful but way off target strike and the final whistle blew on a point a piece.

Tamworth
Singh, Tonks (Riley 85), Digie, Bates, Sayer (McGlinchey 85), Duku (Lynch 60), Enoru, Fairlamb, Mols (Ponticelli 60), Donkor (Rye 68), Hollis
Subs: Wyatt, Phillips
YC: Tonks 5, Bates 63

Brackley Town
Gregory, Lyttle (Donowa 64), Morrison, Dean (c.), Pollock, Roberts, Lowe (Waldron 76), Hobson (Brown 61), Lilly, Byrne (Price 76), Haynes (Calder 60)
Subs: Maxted, Hall
YC: Dean 55

Referee: Aaron Jackson
Assistants: Zharir Mustafa, James Hooper
Fourth Official: Jake Allsopp

Attendance: 1321 (188 from Brackley)

Man of the Match: Chosen by Adam and Cindy MacAneny: Jas Singh