SATURDAY was widely regarded as the day that restored faith in the game of football.
Should Rovers slip back into the relegation quagmire, they will remember four catastrophic minutes that made it an afternoon of utter despondency.
This game seemed to flash by them before it ever really got started.
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Yes, the scoreline did flatter the hosts, who still have aspirations of reaching non-league football's second tier via the back door.
But although Rovers were the busier side for long periods, they were given a lesson in ruthlessness in the final third.
While Danny Spencer and Alex Fisher were handed chances on a plate to give their side what was effectively a two-goal headstart, Tom Winters' clincher at the death was an example of the kind of lethal finishing Rovers have been lacking in recent weeks.
Their achiles heel in front of goal has shifted a burden on to their defence.
Leading up to this game, the back four had been exemplary in handling the pressure, but eventually something was going to give.
Even so, nobody could account for the four minutes of madness that meant the Greens were well and truly up against it for 86 minutes.
Chris Harper couldn't believe his luck when he found himself clean through on just three minutes.
As Rovers screamed for offside, Harper slotted across goal to leave Fisher with a simple finish.
Duane Darby's men perhaps had a case for offside.
But the early blow left them shell-shocked, and only a minute later Spencer took advantage of their flustered state.
He raced on to another ball over the top, before cutting inside and steering a shot inside the far post to double Brackley's advantage.
To Rovers' credit, they were able to shake off the shock of falling behind so early to enjoy a productive first-half.
Laurence Lambley had some joy on the left-hand side, and he skipped past two defenders to tee up the incoming Dave Bridgwater for a volley which dipped over the bar.
A couple of half-chances also fell to Neil Davis. Firstly the striker hit an ambitious effort wide on 25 minutes, while 15 minutes later he threw himself at Alex Cowley's cross-shot but the ball was deflected out for a corner.
Sam Alsop gave Brackley goalkeeper Richard Knight his only real test with a low 25-yard shot just before the break.
Again in the second-half, Rovers impressed with some elegant build-up play but failed to show a ruthless streak. Bridgwater drilled a low free-kick past the wall, forcing Knight into a sprawling one handed save.
The midfielder turned provide for Gary Knight, lofting a free-kick to the back post, but the experienced defender headed wide.
Spencer should have wrapped up the game for Brackley on 77 minutes, when the Rovers back line was breached by a ball over the top for the third time.
He looked to be offside, but the flag stayed down as he rounded Chris Taylor, and justice was done when the finish went well wide.
The match was rounded off emphatically seven minutes from time.
Collecting the ball on the right, Spencer held up play before picking out former Halesowen Town man Shane Hill through the middle.
Hill deceived Bridgwater with a clever step-over to set up Winters who smashed an unstoppable left-footed drive into the top corner with venom.
And so supporters waited until the bitter end for the game's moment of real class.
But Rovers left Northamptonshire haunted by the four minutes of madness right at the beginning.
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