Brackley Town defend for their lives to deny Harborough Town and clinch first home win of the season

Brackley Town claimed their first home victory of the season with a narrow 1-0 win over National League North newbies Harborough Town on Saturday afternoon.

Defender Tommy Fogarty’s 15-minute goal - a poke through a crowd of bodies from a set-piece - proved to be the difference in the St James Park sunshine.

This picture tells a thousand words as Brackley Town were under the cosh for much of the game but held on to beat Harborough 1-0.

placeholder image — This picture tells a thousand words as Brackley Town were under the cosh for much of the game but held on to beat Harborough 1-0.

But the goal - and the victory - rather came against the run of play, as Harborough were dominant for much of the game and had so many near misses throughout.

Brackley boss Andy Whing was thrilled to have many of his defensive options back available after a crisis in his back line in recent weeks, and it made a huge difference, even if the Bees did pepper the home goal.

Will Armitage and Josh Tomlinson were superb in the heart of defence to head and clear away many of Harborough’s deliveries from wide.

Goalscorer Fogarty was also imperious in an auxiliary right-back role, though there was a worry for the Tamworth loanee as he was forced off with a hamstring problem late on.

Other than the goal, Brackley hardly had a sniff and it was defence against attack for lengthy periods. Albeit able to work the ball nicely in tight spaces, the Saints didn’t fashion many shooting opportunities.

In the first half alone, Harborough had three big chances as Rory McAuley had a header cleared off the line, captain Connor Kennedy struck the right woodwork and McAuley fizzed a header inches wide.

Then, at the start of the second period, Brackley goalkeeper Harrison Rhone was forced into a brave save to deny Carline a nod at the far post, diving low and taking a kick in the back of the head in the process.

That was before Harborough substitute Sam Osborne fired narrowly wide and Dempsey Arlott-John drilled only a few inches past the far post after a loose pass from Brackley’s Charlie Cooper.

Even Paul Malone had a couple of chances. The veteran Bees defender couldn’t believe it when he headed wide from a Silvio Bello cross. He then had a tame shot saved by Rhone.

After a brutally tense six minutes of stoppage time, which included another two Rhones saves from Osborne and McAuley, the full-time whistle blew.

It was pure elation but the overriding emotion was relief for the St James faithful, confirming a big three points to kickstart September.