St. James Park is ready to ignite. On Tuesday night, the FA Cup’s relentless drama comes calling—not for the giants, but for two clubs who know exactly how much this competition matters. The lights will burn a little brighter, the tackles will bite a little harder, and the echoes of last Saturday’s draw still hang in the mist over both Brackley Town and Woking. It’s not just a replay; it’s a 90-minute referendum on who can turn promise into progress and cup dreams into currency.
Neither side brings swaggering form, but that only sharpens the edge and urgency of this all-or-nothing tie. Brackley Town, for all their discipline, are limping into this one. Winless in four, they’ve managed a solitary goal in that stretch—the kind of barren run that forces teams to grit their teeth and grind out ugly results. Last time out, at The Laithwaite, Max Lowe’s early stunner gave them hope, only for old failings to resurface as they surrendered control and allowed Woking back into the contest. The 1-1 result was an honest reflection: sturdy, committed, but lacking killer instinct when it truly counts.
Woking, by contrast, play with a little more offensive ambition, but have been haunted by their own vulnerabilities. They’ve averaged more than a goal a game in their last ten—a modest return, but enough to show they can hurt teams when the mood takes them. The Cards’ striking dilemma is a curious one: when they click, as in the ruthless 3-0 demolition at Solihull Moors, they look irresistible. But their penchant for letting leads slip (see the two-goal collapse against Truro City) raises questions about mental fortitude when the stakes are highest.
So what gives on Tuesday? Tactics, temperament, and a few men who could tilt the game.
For Brackley Town, it all revolves around Max Lowe. He’s not just a scorer; he’s a mood-setter. His energy sets the tempo, and when he’s confident, so is everyone around him. Look for him to try and pin Woking’s fullbacks early, drawing fouls and provoking mistakes. But Lowe can’t do it alone—the midfield’s inability to transition quickly or support in the final third has been glaring. Jamie Hall’s industry and Hall’s pressing might provide an antidote, but against a Woking side likely to shade possession, Brackley’s best moments will come from quick turnovers and set-pieces.
Woking’s danger men are more spread out. Harry Beautyman has emerged as the heartbeat, orchestrating play and arriving late to snatch crucial goals—his brace against Truro evidence of both his timing and nerve. The movement of Olly Sanderson and the physical presence of Akinwale Drewe provide options, especially in a game where Brackley’s central defense can be drawn out and exploited. If Woking’s midfield presses high like they did in the second half of the last encounter, expect them to swarm Brackley’s ball carriers and suffocate the hosts’ rhythm.
The tactical subplot is delicious: Woking’s pressing game versus Brackley’s low block and counter. The Cards will want to play on the front foot, win the ball high, and force Brackley into errors in their own half. Brackley, meanwhile, may sit deeper and trust their shape, betting that a moment of directness or a dead ball can tip the contest. Expect set-pieces to be critical—Brackley’s aerial threat is no secret, and in a nervy cup tie, one delivery could decide everything.
Here’s where the stakes ratchet up even higher. Beyond progression and prize money, this is a litmus test for both managers. For Brackley, it’s about restoring belief and showing their supporters that goals—and glory—are still achievable, even in a season that’s threatened to go sideways. For Woking, it’s a chance to convert flashes of promise into tangible success, to silence doubt and build the kind of confidence that can galvanize a campaign.
There will be nerves. Expect a cagey start, perhaps even a stuttered first half where neither side wants to blink first. But if the first match taught us anything, it’s that the margin for error is razor thin and fortune favors the side willing to seize their moment. The crowd at St. James Park won’t have to wait long for fireworks—the FA Cup always finds a way to deliver.
Sources tell me both camps are keeping selection cards close to the vest, but don’t be shocked if we see early gambits—Woking pressing higher than usual, Brackley rolling the dice with two up top in search of a breakthrough. The fine margins will decide it: a set-piece routine, a referee’s whistle, maybe even penalty drama under the floodlights.
This isn’t a glamour tie, but don’t let that fool you. For Brackley and Woking, this cup clash is their shot at folklore. And when the whistle blows on Tuesday night, expect blood and thunder, expect hearts on sleeves—because in the FA Cup, hope is undefeated and underdogs always dream biggest.