Halesowen considered themselves somewhat unfortunate to be beaten by two good Brackley strikes either side of half-time after starting and ending the game in control.

Former Villa striker Stefan Moore gave the Yeltz a perfect start by curling a delightful shot into the top corner from 12 yards to establish an early lead.

Home goalkeeper Richard Morris then flapped at a 20th minute corner from Scott Rickards, but his defence scrambled the ball clear.

Brackley gradually stirred into life as the half progressed with Ben Mackey heading high and the Saints equalised just two minutes before the interval, when Mark Rawle swivelled to smash home a half-volley from 12 yards after picking up a Tom Winters cross.

The hosts changed formation with a double substitution at half-time and Halesowen goalkeeper Nick Bussey was forced into a good reflex save to keep out Mackey’s 54th minute shot.

For Halesowen, a 56th minute free-kick from Bates was deflected away and the resulting corner was met by Gary Knight under suspicion of shirt-tugging from a home defender.

Winters claimed Brackley’s 64th minute winner by lashing home a 20-yard shot beyond Bussey after being put free down the left.

Yeltz kept battling away to finish strongly and their 76th minute penalty appeal for handball was turned down before Bates forced a corner three minutes later.

The home defence then survived by scrambling clear a last minute corner from Rickards and an injury-time free-kick from Bates just evaded Knight’s head.

Brackley: Morris; Green, Spencer (Gould 45), Groves (Sandy 45), McIlwain, Willmott, Anderson, Kearns, Rawle, Mackey, Winters (Brady 82).

Unused Subs: Burgess, Goode.

Halesowen: Bussey; Connor, Griffiths, Knight, Morley, Breward, Cooke (Dodds 61), Rickards, Moore, Barlone (Johnson 70), Bates.

Unused Subs: O’Brien, Teji, Gray.

Referee: I Rathbone (Northampton)

Attendance: 248