No complaints from boss Cowan as Boreham Wood see off Brackley Town
Brackley Town boss Gavin Cowan had no complaints after watching his side get beaten 3-1 at home by Enterprise National League title chasers Boreham Wood at St James Park on Saturday.
The second-placed side were too slick for the Saints to handle at the end of a tiring week for Cowan's part-timers.
Matt Rush fired Wood ahead on the stroke of half-time, and then with 86 minutes on the clock they had extended their lead to 3-0 before Matt Lowe netted an 89th-minute consolation for the home side.
Brackley did have 'big moments' during the game, but Cowan was left frustrated as they failed to take them, and in the end was left to accept that the visitors were too good on the day.
"I thought Boreham Wood were excellent, very fluent, and they don't really have a shape and it's tough to deal with," Cowan told @BrackleyTownFC.
"I think we will live with a little bit of regret because we didn't put our best foot forward, and it did smack of a bit of fatigue to be honest.
"We had the massive FA Cup game against Notts County and then a big trip to Braintree in the week and it was tough for the players, so I do feel for them.
"But the moment we start making excuses like that then it will be a slippery road, so we need to understand that even on days where we might be second best, we need to grind out results.
"Boreham Wood are very good and are going to be up there, and their preparation for this game was very different to ours as they played Tuesday and we played Wednesday, but no excuses.
"We have to make sure we have to stand up to these tests, but in truth they were probably the best team we've come up against.
"We did have a couple of chances that we would like to think we would convert, and at 1-0 we had a really big chance with a goalmouth scramble, and they then go down the other end and score, and the big moments just didn't go our way.
"The goal just on half-time to make it 1-0 really hurts us, then we have a big moment to go 1-1, and they then go down the other end and score.
"So we are disappointed as we can't let these games bypass us, there can't be excuses as the game's come thick and fast, but thankfully we get a free week now."
The Saints are 16th in the table, still a healthy seven points above the drop zone, and they have a free midweek before making the trip to an Altrincham side sitting just one place above them, and on the same points.
The north west side were 1-0 winners at rock-bottom Truro City on Saturday.