IRON 1-1 Oxford Utd

[admin]

Oxford take the lead through Ryan Taylor on 15 mins.

Remy Clerima forced to come off on 35 mins replaced by Taylor Miles.

Kenny Davis hits a 62nd minute equaliser with a lovely placed shot just inside the post 1-1.

Sean Marks on for Dan Sparkes on 65 minutes the second Iron player to retire injured.

72 mins Oxford down to 10 men after John Mullins receives second card with Michael Cheek clear on goal.

A well earned draw and replay, well done!

[spirit86]

You did well , we missed a hat full of chances , I fear you've blown your chance at beating us , with us at full strength and at home I can't see nothing but a home win !

[rustynail]

A very entertaining game.
I thought at first that Oxford looked the fitter and had some better skilled players as you would expect from a team with more resources and bouncing along nicely in div two.
However after the Oxford goal the Iron raised their game and got with the pace of Oxford the boys at the back were again doing sterling work, Mark Phillips was having a good battle with his opposite number.
After the two enforced substitutions our players never let up competing hard with the Yellows/Reds!
In the second half we looked the better side with Chez Isaacs and Kenny Davis dominating the midfield and it was Chez whom put Kenny through to score the goal.
A soft sending off for their No5 and despite their efforts at our goal they did look a bit short handed.
I guess that it will good from a financial point of view to replay at Oxford but the mounting number of injuries is of concern.
Highlights of the game are on www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/34762228

[dbbn]

A hard fought contest with cautious Cowley again starting with one up top and five across midfield. Sparkes was welcomed back on the left flank and the bench lacked experience with only Marks, Fry & Miles being squad regulars. Braintree opened brightly but soon faded as Oxford took control. They were most threatening down their left flank and were finding it easy to get crosses in as Clerima & Isaac appeared to lose any understanding of how they were supposed to work together. It was down this flank that the opening goal came with Taylor putting away a powerful header from a good cross. As Oxford increased their ball retention, the Iron struggled to get out of their own half. Clerima had his poorest game that I had seen constantly giving the ball away (a trait also seen from Isaac) and late on in the half was substituted for an injury, Miles came on and Brundle reverted to right back.
In the second half, Braintree began to press more further up the pitch and Oxford switched their marauding attacks to their right flank and it was Habergham's turn to have problems, especially from their right back. Braintree were starting to run out of ideas and Marks was stripped and ready to come on when the equaliser came. Although isolated, Cheek was able to hunt down a ball and hold off his opponent near the corner flag, to buy enough time for colleagues to get up with play. As the ball was fed inside no one could find a shooting opportunity until Davis was spotted about 20 yards out and the pass to him this time was perfect and he fired low into the bottom left corner of the net. Marks had to sit back on the bench, only to be called on when Sparkes was injured shortly after the goal.
A second yellow for one of the U's for upending Cheek as he tried to burst past, resulted in a free kick which Miles hit into the wall and over for a corner.
With 20 minutes to play against 10 men, it was Oxford who posed the greater threat with shots wide from good positions and goalmouth scrambles. Yet it was Braintree who almost grabbed the winner with the last kick of the game, but Miles effort was well saved low down to the 'keeper's left.
Pleased to be in "the bowl" for the second round draw, but we could do with some injuries clearing up to try and keep the squad fresh.

[castIRONgooner]

The lad Sekajja was most recently playing for Livingston in Scotland. Understand we beat another National League side to his signature. Young Elliot List impressed in the senior cup defeat of Billericay with bags of pace.

[smudge7946]

What's our number in the draw.

[Stuart R]

32.

[Braintree TV]

Braintree TV highlights of this game are available on today's (Wednesday 11th November) compilation on www.braintree-tv.com