Rodman goal not enough to for Town at Bra
Brackley Town: Danny Lewis, Matt Lowe, Connor Franklin, Shane Byrne, Luke Graham, Gareth Dean (c), Jordan Lee, James Armson, Andy Brown, Lee Ndlovu, Adam Walker
Subs: Jordan Williams, Steve Diggin, Jack Byrne, Junior Newenya, Darrius Brown, Greg Kaziboni, Dan Farrell
Town first half: 1 Dean Henderson, 27 Ryan Sears, 39 Christos Shelis, 18 Zak Jules, 12 Junior Brown, 8 Abu Ogogo, 16 Bryn Morris, 7 Shaun Whalley, 11 Arthur Gnahoua, 26 John McAtee, 10 Louis Dodds
Town second half: Craig MacGillivray, 28 Callum Roberts, 18 Zak Jules, (24 George Hughes 72) 22 Toto Nsiala, 39 Christos Shells, 17 Ebou Adams, 25 Chris Gallagher, 23 Alex Rodman, 21 Dan James, 20 Jon Nolan, 14 Lenell John-Lewis
Attendance: 328
Paul Hurst spoke ahead of the game of using the match to give all his available players a run out and it was a case of two sets of players per half.
New loanee Carlton Morris has already played a couple of games for Norwich during pre-season so is left out of the squad for the evening. Mat Sadler has a slight calf problem and Shaun Rowley hurt his hip in training but both are expected back in action soon.
The game kicked off in the driving rain, it might be July and pre-season but no one needed their sun cream for this game.
There was a new pairing at the heart of the Town defence with youngsters Zak Jules and Christos Shelis playing alongside each other, with Junior Brown on the left and Ryan Sears on the right.
Town were getting the ball down and looking to play the ball around, it was about getting it to a teammate quickly and then looking to get at the home side.
The best chance of the opening exchanges fell to the home side when Armson found the space to drive towards the Town goal, he fired in a long-range effort but it was wide of the target.
The home side were having the better of the pressure in the opening 20 minutes but the Town defence were doing their job and Henderson was commanding his box well with a number of good collections.
A nice combination of passes saw Whalley come forward and feed McAtee, he laid if off to Gnahoua who forced a corner for Town.
It was Brackley who grabbed the lead on 27 minutes, the ball dropped in behind the Town defence and Ndlovu was in on goal and calmly played the ball under Henderson to make it 1-0.
Moments later it was nearly 2-0 to the home side after a slip from Shelis saw Arson in on goal, he looked to slide it under Henderson but the Town keeper did well to block with his legs and watch the ball run behind for a corner.
Brackley had another good opening on 36 minutes after ball was played into the edge of the Town box, a flick over Shelis found Armson who drove in a low shot but Henderson was equal to it with a smart save.
Town had created few clear cut chances in the first half but when Whalley got the ball out wide he came inside, he drove in a low shot but Lewis was down save.
The second half started with nine changes to the team with only Zak Jules and Christos Shelis staying from the side that started the first half as Paul Hurst gave everyone a run out.
Dan James picked the ball up and was away, he showed great pace to power towards goal and ride several challenges before being upended on the edge of the box for a free kick. Chris Gallagher placed the ball and curled in a shot abut the wall did it’s job and went behind for a Town corner.
Town made a change on 72 minutes with George Hughes coming on to replace Zac Jules.
With just over 10 minutes remaining Town grabbed a goal back, the ball was played in from the right to the edge of the box where Rodman had made a great run and he curled in a lovely finish from the edge of the box.
Moments later Town could have levelled it after Dan James received the ball and drove into the box, he put in a low shot but it was deflected over for a Town corner.
Town were pushing looking for an equaliser and more good work from Dan James saw the ball put to the back post for Rodman, it was cut out but dropped to Nolan who curled in a shot that was just wide.
Full-time: 2-1