Post by admin on Feb 4, 2016 22:01:04 GMT
Braintree Town NEWS: Boss Cowley says 'Battling is in our DNA'
proud of the effort: Braintree Town boss Danny Cowley
Braintree Town boss Danny Cowley says winning against the odds is in the team's DNA.
The Iron recorded a third successive win with a 1-0 victory over Welling United at the Avanti Stadium on Tuesday night, but did it despite playing 57 minutes of the match with ten men.
Dan Sparkes had given Braintree an early lead but Sean Marks was sent off midway through the first half for an apparent elbow.
After going three weeks without a game, they have now played five inside the same amount of time, with four of those matches played on the heavy, strength sapping surface at Cressing Road.
It was after Marks' sending off that Braintree were really put to the test and Cowley couldn't pick an individual from a brilliant second-half performance.
"We probably lost our discipline in the period after the sending off before half-time, but at half-time we were able to compose ourselves and in the second half we were excellent to a man," said Cowley. "The effort and commitment they showed was excellent and if you want to be a successful team you have to overcome many trials and tribulations as the season unfolds.
"I thought we passed this test with flying colours.
"We've had five games in a short space of time and the last two games on a heavy pitch, so their fitness levels were excellent as well.
"I was immensely proud of the boys and I think that's exactly what we're about at Braintree Town, that's our DNA, to win against the odds with a real determined performance."
The sending off threatened to dismantle Braintree's early good work but the side with the joint best defensive record in the Vanarama National League, 21 goals conceded, saw off their opponents expertly.
The clean sheet was their eighth at home in the league on the trot and Cowley believes that when his side take the lead they have the confidence, if need be, to hold on.
"People keep criticising our home form but we haven't conceded a goal here since September 26," said Cowley. "To not concede a goal here in eight football matches I think is a pretty fantastic effort.
"That has been the cornerstone for our season really and it's been a collective effort.
"We want to score the first goal and for us I think it's very important because we haven't lost many from going a goal ahead.
"We've done well in terms of conceding goals first but we've got a discipline about us and we know how to defend leads.
"We've won the last three games on the bounce and to get three clean sheets leaves me a happy man."
With the play-off places within touching distance, Cowley would be forgiven if he was to let his mind wander, but he remains focused on reaching their 50-point target but will be made to wait ten days to try to get it as their next match is at Southport on February 13.
For more Iron news visit our Braintree Town page Click banner ad above.
proud of the effort: Braintree Town boss Danny Cowley
Braintree Town boss Danny Cowley says winning against the odds is in the team's DNA.
The Iron recorded a third successive win with a 1-0 victory over Welling United at the Avanti Stadium on Tuesday night, but did it despite playing 57 minutes of the match with ten men.
Dan Sparkes had given Braintree an early lead but Sean Marks was sent off midway through the first half for an apparent elbow.
After going three weeks without a game, they have now played five inside the same amount of time, with four of those matches played on the heavy, strength sapping surface at Cressing Road.
It was after Marks' sending off that Braintree were really put to the test and Cowley couldn't pick an individual from a brilliant second-half performance.
"We probably lost our discipline in the period after the sending off before half-time, but at half-time we were able to compose ourselves and in the second half we were excellent to a man," said Cowley. "The effort and commitment they showed was excellent and if you want to be a successful team you have to overcome many trials and tribulations as the season unfolds.
"I thought we passed this test with flying colours.
"We've had five games in a short space of time and the last two games on a heavy pitch, so their fitness levels were excellent as well.
"I was immensely proud of the boys and I think that's exactly what we're about at Braintree Town, that's our DNA, to win against the odds with a real determined performance."
The sending off threatened to dismantle Braintree's early good work but the side with the joint best defensive record in the Vanarama National League, 21 goals conceded, saw off their opponents expertly.
The clean sheet was their eighth at home in the league on the trot and Cowley believes that when his side take the lead they have the confidence, if need be, to hold on.
"People keep criticising our home form but we haven't conceded a goal here since September 26," said Cowley. "To not concede a goal here in eight football matches I think is a pretty fantastic effort.
"That has been the cornerstone for our season really and it's been a collective effort.
"We want to score the first goal and for us I think it's very important because we haven't lost many from going a goal ahead.
"We've done well in terms of conceding goals first but we've got a discipline about us and we know how to defend leads.
"We've won the last three games on the bounce and to get three clean sheets leaves me a happy man."
With the play-off places within touching distance, Cowley would be forgiven if he was to let his mind wander, but he remains focused on reaching their 50-point target but will be made to wait ten days to try to get it as their next match is at Southport on February 13.
For more Iron news visit our Braintree Town page Click banner ad above.