Emirates FA Cup

Brimscombe and Thrupp 2

Bracknell Town 2

By Jeremy Turner

BRIMSCOMBE will face a Tuesday night preliminary round FA Cup replay at Bracknell after they surrendered a 2-0 lead.

Sam Prior's side appeared home and dry as goals from Simon Clarke and Ben Deakin put the Lilywhites in control but a last-gasp Bracknell strike saw the spoils shared.

Brimscombe pressed from the off and Ben Deakin had a good opportunity to put the home side in front but Bracknell keeper Garry Aulsberry pulled off a fine save to put the ball out for a corner, this after Ben Snook, Ollie Pitt and Karl Nash had all combined to put Deakin through.

The resultant corner was flicked on at the near post and but for better timing Chris Greenhough would of smashed the ball into the net but it slipped under his foot and Bracknell cleared their lines.

The pressure finally paid dividends on 26 minutes, Steve Sparrow in the Brimscombe goal started the moved quickly getting the ball out to left-back Josh Jones, his long ball to Clarke was pin-point and Clarke from a real tight angle audaciously chipped Aulsberry and put the Lillywhites in front.

Two minutes later Ben Snook nearly gifted the visitors a way back into the game. Pondering on possession he was robbed of the ball by Shane Cooper-Clark who found Martin Bradshaw, fortunately for the home side he wasted his chance.

Five minutes later Brimscombe extended their lead, Clarke this time turned provider as he found Ollie Pitt out left, Pitt cut in and crossed to Deakin who made no mistake.

Deakin could have added to his tally soon after but his shot wide of the mark.

The Brimscombe defence had dealt comfortably with the Bracknell forward line until a stray pass out from John Brodie allowed Tom Barratt to bear down on Josh Jones, beating his man he squared to Shane Cooper-Clark who turned his man and finished smartly to get the Robins back in the game 2-1.

Just before the break Brodie delivered a great ball from right back across to Deakin on the left flank. The tricky winger dribbled into the box but shot wide of the upright.

On 50 minutes Bracknell made a further change with Jake White replacing Mike Lokwa Four minutes later Shane-Cooper-Clarke went close from a free kick, he bent it around the wall but Sparrow was equal to it and dived to his left to push the ball around the post and then collected the corner comfortable.

Soon after Clarke and Deakin combined again for the home side but Deakin just couldn’t get enough curl on the ball and it went well wide.

Tom Black who alongside Ben Snook had worked tirelessly in midfield found space for Deakin to run into out left, Brimscombe’s winger found Tustain who chipped Aulsberry in goal but the keeper just managed to get his fingertips to the ball and divert it onto the post where a defender cleared.

Brimscombe were made to pay for their numerous missed chances and failure to close the game out as in the closing minutes Josh Delander crossed for Ebenezer Opoku-Ware who had started the move; he made no mistake and earned Bracknell a replay.