"Wilkin returns to Brackley for first time as Bucks boss"

Match Date : April 7th, 2023 3:00 pm
Competition : National League North
Ground :
Kick Off : 15:00

Kevin Wilkin takes his troops to Brackley Town on Good Friday to face his former team for the first time since leaving St James Park in September.

Wilkin spent seven years in charge of the Northamptonshire outfit and steered the Saints to 2nd place last season – Town conceding just 23 goals as they pushed Gateshead all the way for the title. But with his side 8th in the table, just five points off top spot having just run out 1-0 winners at the New Bucks Head, Wilkin was relieved of his duties at Brackley after only ten games of the current campaign.

The new man in charge at St James Park is former Birmingham City and Wolves defender Roger Johnson. He’s joined in the dugout out by another former Molineux man in Stephen Ward. And Johnson’s spell started impressively, with his side going unbeaten in his first 17 league games – a run stretching from October until the end January.

Since then, however, Saints have lost seven out of 14, winning just three in that time. In fact, Town are currently winless in seven, which has seen a chance at the title turn into what will probably be another playoff campaign.

Johnson has added experienced forwards Adam Rooney, Adi Yussuf and Theo Robinson to his squad, while defender Matt Preston joined on loan from Solihull shortly before the transfer deadline. Preston’s arrival is as a result of an injury to influential captain Gaz Dean, who looks likely to miss the rest of the season. Summer signing Callum Stead is the Saints’ top scorer with 14 goals.

Brackley have had the better of the Bucks in recent seasons. That said, it’s equally true that the side managed by Kevin Wilkin has won eight of the last 12 meetings between the teams (including each of the last three encounters). And with the gaffer now in the Telford corner, the Bucks will be hoping that it’s Wilkin’s men who prevail once again this Friday.

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MATCHDAY INFORMATION

Website: www.brackleytownfc.com

You can purchase tickets in advance via the Brackley Town website.

Ground Address: St James Park, Churchill Way, Brackley, Northamptonshire, NN13 7EJ