Premier Division
Didcot Town 1 Brackley Town 0
Tuesday, 17 December 2002
After a disappointing run of four consecutive League defeats, Didcot got back to winning ways with a hard fought victory against in-form Brackley at the Loop Meadow Stadium.
To be fair to the visitors, they started the brighter of the two sides. Gordon Bedford was only denied by a brave block from Damien Oglesby and the lively Andy Baird had a low drive saved by Didcot keeper Keith McLoughlin in the opening ten minutes. The home side struggled to retain possession and it looked like Brackley?s early pressure was about to pay off when they were awarded a penalty midway through the half. Baird cleverly beat Chris Nelson only to be brought down in the box by Andy Cooper. The tackle earned the Didcot captain a booking but it also saw Baird substituted after suffering a fractured collar-bone from Cooper?s tackle. Then from the resulting spot-kick Brackley?s Paul Eldridge blasted the ball yards over the bar. It was to prove a costly miss. Didcot?s first real opening in the first half fell to Ian Concannon but after controlling Lee Newport?s excellent flick-on Brackley keeper Alan Adams comfortably saved his firm shot. Didcot grabbed the only goal of the game a minute before the interval. Defender Chris Nelson rifled the ball home as Brackley attempted to clear a corner.
Half Time: 1-0
The goal seemed to calm Didcot down and they looked far more assured after the break. Andy Parsons tried his luck from distance but Adams was equal to it. In a game of few chances Nick Neal will be cursing himself for blasting the ball over the bar with only McLoughlin to beat in the 66th minute.
Despite a few anxious moments in the last few minutes, Didcot held on to secure a very welcome three points ending the run of four defeats.
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