Boss Cowan proud but frustrated as Brackley Town FA Cup run is ended by Burton Albion

The Saints stayed in with a shout of reaching the third round for the first time but a fateful slip saw the Brewers, inspired by hat-trick hero Tyrese Shade, seize control.

Despite having to soak up spells of pressure from a Burton side featuring no fewer than nine starters from their previous EFL outing, Brackley gave away little either side of Michael Nottingham wrapping his foot around a 25th-minute equaliser.

The towering centre-half reacted like a seasoned striker to convert after Kyle Morrison had headed back into the danger zone Jack Price’s deep corner to cancel out Shade’s smart touch and fizzing blast into the bottom left corner 13 minutes into a first half of precious few chances.

The Saints had to hang tough at times in the second half but had just started to regain a foothold before the sliding doors moment arrived 17 minutes from time.

The option of a long throw into the box wasn’t taken up with the ball sprayed out to Tyler Lyttle whose hopeful hook was played straight back up the park.

With every Brackley player in their attacking half, Saint Kitts and Nevis international Shade was free to race through unopposed and made no mistake in stroking past exposed goalkeeper Jonny Maxted on the move.

Any Brackley buoyancy was transferred to Shade’s boots from there and the frontrunner, who earned his move back into the EFL by shining at National League Eastleigh, effortlessly bent low across goal for his hat-trick after strike partner Jake Beesley had tussled to hold up in the right of the box with two minutes to go.

It was fitting reward for Burton's general control throughout but that second goal annoyed Cowan.

“It was a poor decision from us but I have to accept responsibility, I asked the players to be brave,” said the Brackley boss.

“Maybe not in that moment, we should have been professional and loaded it up. We were very much in the game and starting to build momentum.

“We’re disappointed because we fell on our sword, it was not something that was done to us, but now it is the end of our run. We have to draw a line in the sand and really hit the ground running in the league now.

“We had a poor first 10 minutes but were immense once we settled into the game, every first and second contact, the game plan was where it needed to be.”

It was a flat end for a bumper crowd of 2,978 but the experience of toppling Notts County and going toe-to-toe with another third-tier side has whet Cowan’s appetite.

“It is a huge effort to put on days like these and we have had a number of them. We’re getting good at it so hopefully we will have some more," he added.

“Across my two-and-a-half years here it has been incredible and I cannot speak highly enough of everyone here and how hard they work, whether it be employees, hierarchy, volunteers, playing staff or my staff.

“I know the disappointment is there for everyone but we have had a great run, the players have been incredible and now we need to take that into the league.

“We explained to the players afterwards, that is the level of attitude and application that we need every week.”

Burton’s reward for beating the Saints is a third round trip to another National League side in Boreham Wood.

Match facts

Saints (3-4-3): Maxted; Morrison (Waldron, 82), Dean, Nottingham; Lyttle, Byrne (Brown, 84), Price (Pollock, 77), Calder; Newton, Roberts (Hall, 84), Lowe. Unused subs: Wodskou, Donawa, Pendleton, Stewart, Gregory (g/k).

Burton (3-4-3): Collins; Sibbick, Vancooten, Hartridge; Lofthouse (Akoto, 90), Chauke (Krubally, 90+5), Evans, Armer; Shade (Newall, 90+5), Beesley (Taroni, 90+5), Larsson (Williams, 69). Unused subs: Tavares, Hazlehurst, Amissah (g/k), Dudek (g/k).

Attendance: 2,978, including 488 away supporters.

Saints star man: Michael Nottingham