Post by jonw on Dec 17, 2016 23:23:49 GMT
Iron Reserves picked up a stunning 3-2 victory away to Halstead Town's high flying first team today. To put things in perspective Halstead had only lost two league games this season and back in October beat the reserves 7-0 in the Division One Cup.
This is how the B&WT reported on the game:
HALSTEAD TOWN 2 BRAINTREE TOWN RESERVES 3
Thurlow Nunn League division one
A hard-working performance from Braintree Town Reserves saw them get their just rewards by beating Halstead Town in Thurlow Nunn League division one.
Braintree had been beaten 7-0 by Halstead at the same venue in the First Division Knockout Cup in October, but the Iron came into the league game in good form.
They had beaten promotion-chasing Holland FC and Haverhill Borough in their previous two outings and deserved the points from this league clash.
It quickly became clear that the game would not be a repeat of the cup encounter and Braintree started the brighter of the two sides.
There was an early let-off for Halstead as Bailey Jones ghosted in behind the Humbugs’ defence from a neat through-ball but, as he raced clear, he placed his shot wide of the target.
Braintree then broke across the home box and Jack Hurley found space on the right and curled a decent effort in that was safely claimed by Halstead keeper Joe Simmonds.
It was a start that sent a warning shot across Halstead’s bows but it wasn’t a warning that was heeded by the Humbugs.
The game became a bit scrappy, but the hosts found themselves behind in the 27th minute.
A corner from the left was perfectly delivered into the home area by Joe Jones to where an unmarked Charlie Webb met it powerfully with his head to put the Iron ahead.
It was a setback and wasn’t the last of the opening half for the home side as some calamitous defending led to a second goal.
Braintree looked dangerous on the break and Alfie Manley raced clear of the back line.
He was beaten to the ball by Simmonds, but it span loose and Halstead full-back Jordan Hutchings attempted to clear the danger.
However, his clearance cannoned off the goalpost and into the path of Manley, who had the simple task of firing it into the back of the net.
Halstead looked shell-shocked, but they were handed a boost just before half-time.
With much of their play being scrappy during the first-half, the most likely way that they would get back into the game would come from a set piece and that was exactly what happened.
Jules Simon-Parson was fouled in a central area about 25 yards out and Shaun Avis stepped up to curl a wonderful free-kick into the top corner.
It was his third goal in two games and provided the hosts with just the lift they would have wanted heading into the break.
That and whatever was said at half-time by manager Mark Benterman saw the hosts start the second half on the front foot.
They put the Iron goal under early pressure, with all the play in the visitors’ half and that told after ten minutes.
Charlie Baker’s cross from the left was headed goalwards by Avis and Hutchings made amends for his earlier error by making sure the ball got over the line to level things up.
Halstead were buoyant now and a lovely ball by Kane Gilbert released Simon-Parson, but his shot was just past the post.
Braintree remained dangerous on the break, though, and really should have gone back ahead with 12 minutes to go, however, their forwards dwelt too long on the ball and the chance passed.
It wasn’t long to wait for a third goal for the visitors, though.
With Halstead’s defence unable to clear the ball, it ran to Hurley on the edge of the box and he drilled a low shot past Simmonds into the bottom corner of the net.
The Humbugs tried to get back into the game late on, but the Iron continued working hard to close them out and make sure that they gained revenge for the earlier cup defeat.
This is how the B&WT reported on the game:
HALSTEAD TOWN 2 BRAINTREE TOWN RESERVES 3
Thurlow Nunn League division one
A hard-working performance from Braintree Town Reserves saw them get their just rewards by beating Halstead Town in Thurlow Nunn League division one.
Braintree had been beaten 7-0 by Halstead at the same venue in the First Division Knockout Cup in October, but the Iron came into the league game in good form.
They had beaten promotion-chasing Holland FC and Haverhill Borough in their previous two outings and deserved the points from this league clash.
It quickly became clear that the game would not be a repeat of the cup encounter and Braintree started the brighter of the two sides.
There was an early let-off for Halstead as Bailey Jones ghosted in behind the Humbugs’ defence from a neat through-ball but, as he raced clear, he placed his shot wide of the target.
Braintree then broke across the home box and Jack Hurley found space on the right and curled a decent effort in that was safely claimed by Halstead keeper Joe Simmonds.
It was a start that sent a warning shot across Halstead’s bows but it wasn’t a warning that was heeded by the Humbugs.
The game became a bit scrappy, but the hosts found themselves behind in the 27th minute.
A corner from the left was perfectly delivered into the home area by Joe Jones to where an unmarked Charlie Webb met it powerfully with his head to put the Iron ahead.
It was a setback and wasn’t the last of the opening half for the home side as some calamitous defending led to a second goal.
Braintree looked dangerous on the break and Alfie Manley raced clear of the back line.
He was beaten to the ball by Simmonds, but it span loose and Halstead full-back Jordan Hutchings attempted to clear the danger.
However, his clearance cannoned off the goalpost and into the path of Manley, who had the simple task of firing it into the back of the net.
Halstead looked shell-shocked, but they were handed a boost just before half-time.
With much of their play being scrappy during the first-half, the most likely way that they would get back into the game would come from a set piece and that was exactly what happened.
Jules Simon-Parson was fouled in a central area about 25 yards out and Shaun Avis stepped up to curl a wonderful free-kick into the top corner.
It was his third goal in two games and provided the hosts with just the lift they would have wanted heading into the break.
That and whatever was said at half-time by manager Mark Benterman saw the hosts start the second half on the front foot.
They put the Iron goal under early pressure, with all the play in the visitors’ half and that told after ten minutes.
Charlie Baker’s cross from the left was headed goalwards by Avis and Hutchings made amends for his earlier error by making sure the ball got over the line to level things up.
Halstead were buoyant now and a lovely ball by Kane Gilbert released Simon-Parson, but his shot was just past the post.
Braintree remained dangerous on the break, though, and really should have gone back ahead with 12 minutes to go, however, their forwards dwelt too long on the ball and the chance passed.
It wasn’t long to wait for a third goal for the visitors, though.
With Halstead’s defence unable to clear the ball, it ran to Hurley on the edge of the box and he drilled a low shot past Simmonds into the bottom corner of the net.
The Humbugs tried to get back into the game late on, but the Iron continued working hard to close them out and make sure that they gained revenge for the earlier cup defeat.