Brackley's FA Cup dream dies at Tranmere but boss Wilkin is full of pride

Kevin Wilkin admitted his Brackley Town players ‘can be tremendously proud of themselves’ despite failing in their bid to create club history.
Brackley Town boss Kevin Wilkin was proud of his team's efforts in their narrow defeat to Tranmere RoversBrackley Town boss Kevin Wilkin was proud of his team's efforts in their narrow defeat to Tranmere Rovers
Brackley Town boss Kevin Wilkin was proud of his team's efforts in their narrow defeat to Tranmere Rovers

Aiming to reach the FA Cup third round for the first time in 130 years, Vanarama National League North side Saints were beaten 1-0 at in-form Tranmere Rovers in a tie screened live on the BBC.

Sub Kaiyne Woolery curled in the only goal of a closely-fought game on 66 minutes to record their seventh successive win.

After losing to a Rovers side 57 places higher in the football pyramid, Wilkin said: ‘We showed we have some good players, and we showed that we have players who are on an upward curve in their careers.

‘On a fantastic surface, we wanted to show that we could compete and pass the ball against a side who are the form side in their division.

‘The game plan was to nullify their goal threats and I think we did that.

‘But in order to take a side like that out of their comfort zone, we needed to get ourselves a goal - and we didn’t quite do that.

‘There is a little bit of disappointment that we didn’t force extra time, because the lads worked ever so hard. They can be tremendously proud of themselves.

‘But give Tranmere credit, they are a good side and it was a great strike that won it.’

Wilkin insists there is ‘no time to feel sorry for ourselves’ as attention now turns to improving the club’s league position.

Saints, who were in the play-offs last season, are currently fifth from bottom but have games in hand on the teams above them.

They return to league action against Leamington on Tuesday and Wilkin said: ‘We have been stuttering in the league and we need to put a run together.

‘With the pandemic, it’s been hard to get any consistency - but a lot of sides can say the same thing.’