Draw leaves Brakes anxiously looking over their shoulders

The point did allow Brakes to open up a ten-point gap on Oxford City in the third and final relegation spot, but with Mike Ford’s side now holding five games in hand as well as still having to visit the New Windmill, manager Paul Holleran knows his side are still in the midst of a survival scrap.

The recent wet and windy weather has done little to aid Brakes’ cause, with conditions at The Northolme mirroring those at Holker Street seven days previously.

But, in addition to an improvement in the weather, Holleran is also keeping his fingers crossed for an end to his side’s run of niggling injuries, with Joe Magunda the latest player to on the treatment table.

“You’ve got galeforce winds, the pitches are heavy and it’s hard to get the ball under control and play with any kind of method,” said Holleran.

“We’ve had a tough run of away games and had a long period where we haven’t won a game.

“It’s been difficult and we’ve given some sloppy goals away.

“We’ve also lost Craig Owen, Danny Newton and now Joe Magunda.

“It’s been the story of our season and it has been difficult to put a settled side out and get some consistency.

“But, as long as we are getting points on the board, we’ll be okay.”

A win at Gainsborough would have pushed Brakes back up to 12th and opened up a handy five-point cushion on their hosts, but despite his side having the clearer of the opportunities, Holleran felt a draw was a fair result.

“They were definitely at it from the start after the derby defeat and we were off it,” said Holleran.

“We did look a threat going forward, though.

“The penalty was soft. It was a poor decision by us, but even then it could have been given outside the area.

“The the first 25 minutes of the second half we were on top of the game.

“We created good chances but we haven’t taken them and they have come back into it and let us off the hook.

“Tony Breeden made a couple of good saves, but overall we had the better chances.”

Holleran will be boosted by the return from a hamstring injury of Danny Newton for tomorrow’s home fixture with Vauxhall Motors, but Joe Magunda is rated as extremely doubtful after a limping off in Lincolnshire.

Vauxhall claimed a 2-1 win over Leamington in November and, while wary of the threat posed by the visitors, Holleran says this is a game his side should be winning if they are to prolong their stay in the Skrill North past one season.

“Saturday is one of those games against a team around us.

“They play a lot of good football and if you let them impose themselves on the game you are in for a difficult afternoon.

“But, if you look at the home games coming up, we’ve got Vauxhall, Oxford and Worcester and we need to get some points on the board.

“Three wins will cement us in the middle of the table and then we’ll be able to enjoy the run-in.”

Brakes’ home league fixture against Oxford City, recently abandoned because of waterlogging, has been re-scheduled for Tuesday March 25 (7.45pm).

The fixture will have a ‘Pay What You Want’ admission tariff, allowing those who paid for the abandoned match in January to benefit.

Chariman Jim Scott said: “We obviously hope that this will also draw other football fans to come along for this special offer, but it is our own supporters that this offer is specifically targeted at, as a thank you from the club for their magnificent support during the season.”