Post by admin on Nov 18, 2015 6:50:06 GMT
Braintree Town knocked out of FA Cup after giving Oxford United a scare
By Matt Harris
Kenny Davis slots home his penalty kick
Braintree Town's hopes of making the FA Cup second round for the first time were dashed at Oxford United as the Sky Bet League Two side came from behind to win 3-1.
A shock looked on the cards when the Iron took the lead from the penalty spot on 34 minutes as captain Kenny Davis coolly slotted home from the penalty spot after Chez Isaac had been fouled just inside the box.
However, the home team levelled three minutes before the break when a long ball forward wasn't cut out by the visitors and Liam Sercombe ran on to guide the ball past Will Norris from just inside the box.
The home side then took the lead on 64 minutes as Kemar Roofe squared for Patrick Hoban to tap home from close range.
Hoban made the first round replay safe with ten minutes to go as he scored from the penalty spot following matt fry's foul on Callum O'Dowda, though Davis missed a second penalty with six minutes remaining.
The Iron made two changes from the team that beat Halifax 6-3 on Saturday, with Fry coming in for Mitch Brundle and Sean Marks replacing ineligible Colchester United loanee Sammie Szmodics.
Matt Paine had to be alert to make a superb block to stop Alex MacDonald from blasting a shot at from just inside the penalty area.
Michael Cheek then blasted the ball well over the bar from 22 yards as the Iron made a composed start to the match, spending time in the Oxford half and clearly not daunted by their Football league surroundings.
The home side began to loosely take control with top scorer Roofe swinging in a dangerous cross and the Iron then having to defend an Oxford corner.
But the Iron withstood the pressure and the strong winds blowing straight at them well to make sure the opening 20 minutes were as quite as possible.
Such were the farcical conditions in the wind that a Remy Clerima clearance from full-back became a square ball to Alex Woodyard in midfield, while an iron free-kick on halfway only made ten yards before blowing out of play.
Oxford had better luck with a free-kick 30 yards out with the win at their backs on 28 minutes. MacDonald stepped up and the effort clipped the top of the crossbar and went behind.
The cup upset looked to be on 34 minutes when Isaac was brought down by Joe Skarz just inside the right side of the box and Davis converted.
Scenes became even more farcical shortly after when Braintree won a corner and Woodyard had to hold the ball still with his finger so Sparkes could take it.
The Iron were playing some beautiful one-touch stuff and hadn't put a foot wrong until three minutes before half-time when a punt forward beat the retreating Davis and Sercombe latched on before finishing.
Norris had to be alert to make an excellent save low to his left to deny MacDonald's curling effort from the edge of the area just 45 seconds into the second half.
Four minutes later Braintree won a corner, which Oxford could only clear to Woodyard 25 yards out and he hits a rasping drive narrowly over the crossbar.
Sercombe went one better moments later as he hit the bar with a looping effort from 22 yards that had Norris stranded.
The wind appeared to cause problems again shortly after when the lights flickered out before restoring though with some of the bulbs out. There was a brief pause before referee Darren England restarted the match.
Roofe flicked a near post corner wide and Woodyard sidefooted over from distance as the match began to open up.
The Iron were given a let off on 62 minutes when an O'Dowda cross deflected into the path of Sercombe in the box but he couldn't get a clean connection and Norris held on.
Two minutes later and the Us pressure told as Roofe battled his way to the byline in the six-yard area and at the near post squared the ball for Hoban to tap home.
Hoban headed narrowly wide at the near post and O'Dowda fired a dangerous cross across goal before Hoban made it 3-1 from the penalty spot after Fry ran into Oxford's flying Irish winger.
The Iron were given a lifeline four minutes later when referee England awarded a third penalty for a second Skarz foul in the area, this time on substitute Ibrahim Sekajja.
However, Davis went the opposite way this time and the weak penalty was easily gathered by Benji Buchel who went the right way.
In time added on Sekajja brought a save from Buchel after an nice interchange of passing with Marks, but the Iron had been unable to match their thrilling first half display, with the hosts seeing out the victory.
Braintree Town: Norris, Clerima (Miles 77), Habergham, Paine, Fry, Isaac (Brundle 53), Woodyard, Davis, Sparkes, Cheek (Sekajja 82), Marks. Unused subs: Haigh, Akinola, Edgar, Baxter.
By Matt Harris
Kenny Davis slots home his penalty kick
Braintree Town's hopes of making the FA Cup second round for the first time were dashed at Oxford United as the Sky Bet League Two side came from behind to win 3-1.
A shock looked on the cards when the Iron took the lead from the penalty spot on 34 minutes as captain Kenny Davis coolly slotted home from the penalty spot after Chez Isaac had been fouled just inside the box.
However, the home team levelled three minutes before the break when a long ball forward wasn't cut out by the visitors and Liam Sercombe ran on to guide the ball past Will Norris from just inside the box.
The home side then took the lead on 64 minutes as Kemar Roofe squared for Patrick Hoban to tap home from close range.
Hoban made the first round replay safe with ten minutes to go as he scored from the penalty spot following matt fry's foul on Callum O'Dowda, though Davis missed a second penalty with six minutes remaining.
The Iron made two changes from the team that beat Halifax 6-3 on Saturday, with Fry coming in for Mitch Brundle and Sean Marks replacing ineligible Colchester United loanee Sammie Szmodics.
Matt Paine had to be alert to make a superb block to stop Alex MacDonald from blasting a shot at from just inside the penalty area.
Michael Cheek then blasted the ball well over the bar from 22 yards as the Iron made a composed start to the match, spending time in the Oxford half and clearly not daunted by their Football league surroundings.
The home side began to loosely take control with top scorer Roofe swinging in a dangerous cross and the Iron then having to defend an Oxford corner.
But the Iron withstood the pressure and the strong winds blowing straight at them well to make sure the opening 20 minutes were as quite as possible.
Such were the farcical conditions in the wind that a Remy Clerima clearance from full-back became a square ball to Alex Woodyard in midfield, while an iron free-kick on halfway only made ten yards before blowing out of play.
Oxford had better luck with a free-kick 30 yards out with the win at their backs on 28 minutes. MacDonald stepped up and the effort clipped the top of the crossbar and went behind.
The cup upset looked to be on 34 minutes when Isaac was brought down by Joe Skarz just inside the right side of the box and Davis converted.
Scenes became even more farcical shortly after when Braintree won a corner and Woodyard had to hold the ball still with his finger so Sparkes could take it.
The Iron were playing some beautiful one-touch stuff and hadn't put a foot wrong until three minutes before half-time when a punt forward beat the retreating Davis and Sercombe latched on before finishing.
Norris had to be alert to make an excellent save low to his left to deny MacDonald's curling effort from the edge of the area just 45 seconds into the second half.
Four minutes later Braintree won a corner, which Oxford could only clear to Woodyard 25 yards out and he hits a rasping drive narrowly over the crossbar.
Sercombe went one better moments later as he hit the bar with a looping effort from 22 yards that had Norris stranded.
The wind appeared to cause problems again shortly after when the lights flickered out before restoring though with some of the bulbs out. There was a brief pause before referee Darren England restarted the match.
Roofe flicked a near post corner wide and Woodyard sidefooted over from distance as the match began to open up.
The Iron were given a let off on 62 minutes when an O'Dowda cross deflected into the path of Sercombe in the box but he couldn't get a clean connection and Norris held on.
Two minutes later and the Us pressure told as Roofe battled his way to the byline in the six-yard area and at the near post squared the ball for Hoban to tap home.
Hoban headed narrowly wide at the near post and O'Dowda fired a dangerous cross across goal before Hoban made it 3-1 from the penalty spot after Fry ran into Oxford's flying Irish winger.
The Iron were given a lifeline four minutes later when referee England awarded a third penalty for a second Skarz foul in the area, this time on substitute Ibrahim Sekajja.
However, Davis went the opposite way this time and the weak penalty was easily gathered by Benji Buchel who went the right way.
In time added on Sekajja brought a save from Buchel after an nice interchange of passing with Marks, but the Iron had been unable to match their thrilling first half display, with the hosts seeing out the victory.
Braintree Town: Norris, Clerima (Miles 77), Habergham, Paine, Fry, Isaac (Brundle 53), Woodyard, Davis, Sparkes, Cheek (Sekajja 82), Marks. Unused subs: Haigh, Akinola, Edgar, Baxter.