THEY were never going to win the FA Cup, but the way Warrington Town exited this year’s competition will annoy them.
A lot of stars have to align in order to pull off a cup shock but they never did on this occasion as the game went with form and prestige.
Brackley Town were expected to win and duly did, but they did not have to get out of second gear to do so.
> PHOTO GALLERY: Action photos as Yellows are knocked out of FA Cup
That is probably the most frustrating part – Yellows could have come to St James’ Park and played with the freedom of underdogs but instead, this was the display of a side whose confidence has taken another hit.
Encouragement in attack was fleeting as Brackley controlled the majority of proceedings after a slightly slow start.
They moved the ball quickly and with precision, with Shane Byrne and Glenn Walker dictating the tempo in the middle while England ‘C’ international Matt Lowe looked dangerous on the right wing.
Still, they were not forcing Tony McMillan into any saves – which will have made Thierry Audel’s opener from a set piece all the more irritating.
Thierry Audel heads home Brackley's opening goal. Picture by John Hopkins
Yellows were not doing enough to influence proceedings in attack. Very rarely did they look like carving open serious opportunities.
Paul Carden said post-match that his side look “toothless” at the moment – it is very hard to disagree.
> VIDEO: 'We showed too much respect,' says Yellows boss
Tony Gray toiled on scraps, Matty Chadwick only really got into the kind of position he thrives upon once – a dragged shot wide in the first half – while substitute Sheldon Jordan was largely ineffectual.
Matty Chadwick drags an early effort wide. Picture by John Hopkins
As a result, the Brackley defence – led by the imperious Audel – had a relatively comfortable afternoon.
They were not blown away after the opening goal, which came at a point where Brackley were starting to purr and threaten complete domination, but once it went in there was only going to be one winner.
While Yellows improved after the break, they still never troubled Danny Lewis in the home goal. They failed to register even a shot on target – the only stat needed to emphasise their struggles in attack.
With the calibre of players they have in the final third, they should be doing more. They will know that themselves, but something is not right.
They have a lot of catching up to do in the league and the job of reeling in the teams they were hoping to compete with at the top of the table begins in earnest.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here