The Isuzu FA Trophy

Brackley Town and Bromley hold advantage ahead of Buildbase FA Trophy second legs

Friday 23 Mar 2018
Brackley Town are looking for their first-ever trip to Wembley

A place at Wembley will be at stake on Saturday, with both semi-finals of the Buildbase FA Trophy still in the balance heading into their respective second legs.

One thing we already know is that there will be a sixth-tier team in the final, with Brackley Town within sight of a first-ever trip to the national stadium.

The Northamptonshire side defeated Wealdstone 1-0 at St James Park, with Alex Gudger claiming the only goal of the first leg against the 1985 Trophy winners.

Buildbase FA Trophy
  • Semi-final second legs
  • Saturday 24 March 2018
  • By Matt Wright
For Stones manager Bobby Wilkinson, still being in with a shout is enough of a reason from him to relish the return game at Grosvenor Vale.

“The biggest thing in the first game was leaving Brackley still being in the tie," said Wilkinson.

“We would have loved a 0-0 or a 1-0 win ourselves, but we didn’t get it. We’re 1-0 down, but we have 90 minutes to turn it around.

“Credit to them, they’ve had their home tie, but now we have our home tie and we have to believe we can get the first goal in that game and keep fighting.”

The home side will also be looking to overturn a one-goal deficit when Gateshead host fellow National League team Bromley at the International Stadium.

Like Brackley, Bromley have never been to Wembley, but two goals in the second half from Louis Dennis helped the Ravens to come from behind and defeat the Heed 3-2 last Saturday.

For Gateshead, turning the tie around would mean a return to playing under the arch, four years after losing the National League play-off final to Cambridge United.

Their manager Steve Watson experienced playing at the old stadium, having featured in the 1998 FA Cup Final for Newcastle United against Arsenal.

Gateshead defender Neill Byrne said: "It's a great occasion, not just for the team but for the club, for your family and for everything like that.

"You can have that, maybe, at the back of your head, but you can't let that cloud over anything.

"We've been working hard all this week on what we need to improve on from last Saturday, stop them from doing what they're good at and start implementing what we're good at."

Tickets for Non-League Finals Day, which is held at Wembley Stadium on Sunday 20 May and also features the Buildbase FA Vase Final are already on sale. Find out more and purchase tickets here.

By FA Staff