Brackley Town brace for relegation to National League North as winless run extends to 13 matches

The Saints have picked up just three points in 13 matches under new boss Andy Whing, with the third from the 1-1 draw with Boston United on Easter Monday.

Brackley, now seven points adrift from safety following 20th-placed Eastleigh’s 2-1 win over Yeovil Town, know they must win all three remaining matches.

Although two wins and a draw could technically be enough if Eastleigh lose all three, or if Aldershot Town in 19th lose their remaining four, there’s a sizable gap in goal difference.

But, despite the harsh reality of the table, Brackley put on an impressive performance last time out and definitely deserved to beat Boston.

The Saints were controversially denied two penalties and had two shots cleared off the line, while a last-gasp winner in stoppage time was ruled out for a contentious foul on the Boston goalkeeper.

“I think we had everything but a win tonight, I think we should have won comfortably,” Whing told this newspaper.

“I’ll have to see what happened at the end. We score a goal and it get’s chalked off… I mean, everything has been thrown back at us really, hasn’t it, in terms of luck.

“We couldn't have done much more today, to be perfectly honest. And, you know, that's probably the best we've played and we should be here talking about a victory.

“But I can’t fault the lads, I can’t fault the fans. I thought the fans were magnificent. I’d like to thank them for that.

“They got right behind the team. I’m just gutted for everyone that we haven’t got the win over the line.”

Beating Scunthorpe, currently fifth in the National League and eager to bounce back from a 2-0 defeat to Gateshead, will be very difficult. However Whing remains hopeful his side can finally break their duck this weekend.

“All we can do is turn up and give the supporters a performance to try and win a football game, and that's all we have to keep doing,” Whing added.

“We've got to keep going and keep fighting until the end.”