‘Full credit to him’ - Brackley Town boss Andy Whing hails ‘outstanding’ Saints star

Lyttle, only just back from a lengthy spell on the sidelines through injury, put in a man-of-the-match display at St James Park.

The former Bristol Rovers man assisted Aidan Elliott-Wheeler’s opener with a tremendous cross from the right, while he got stuck in to keep Boston winger Luca Barrington quiet for the most part.

Brackley were down to the bare bones for Monday’s encounter, with merely four substitutes named, including two goalkeepers. As a result, Whing had little choice but to throw Lyttle straight in for the full 90.

“Like I said before the game, I've not seen him once, he’s not trained with the group,” Whing admitted post-match.

Given the part-time nature of the football club, contact time with the players is at a minimum as it is, let alone when they are suddenly given the go-ahead by the medical staff.

“We haven't trained since the last game. He's obviously done bits with the physio, but he hasn't really done any ball work with the lads,” Whing added.

“So to come out and play 90 minutes is a great testament to him. His mentality, for one, his athleticism, the way he's worked, and he's worked hard being out of the team to get back in.

“Full credit to him. He was outstanding in the goal as well.”

The outlook is pretty bleak for Brackley heading into the final three games of the season, with seven points the gap to escape relegation to the National League North.

But there’s still plenty of pride at stake, and both Whing and his players have a point to prove to the supporters, regardless of whether they stay up or go down.

Next up, this Saturday at 3pm, the Saints head away to fifth-placed Scunthorpe United. There’s then the final home game of the season the following weekend, against Aldershot Town.

Then, to wrap up the campaign, Brackley head to Carlisle on the final day.