Post by dbbn on Jan 6, 2024 18:56:07 GMT
It was a welcome return to winning ways for the Iron today against second placed Hampton & Richmond Borough who saw their run of 17 unbeaten come to a deserved end. The only change to the side beaten at Chelmsford saw Matt Ward who has just had his loan extended, start in place of Miccio. A bright start from the Iron and early on a pass across the park out to Ward on the right flank who plays it in early for Blair and his shot is blocked and out for a corner. The visitors are visibly taller than the home side but Grimwood and Tompkins who also has had his loan extended are winning everything in the air. Despite better possession the Iron cannot break down a fairly resolute defence, but a rare mistake sees Coulthirst steal the ball just outside the box, he finds Ward but the ball won't settle and the chance is gone. Just past the half hour and the home side get in front. It comes down the right side with Ward/Lambe and Altintop working an opening for Ward to come inside on his left peg, he takes a few strides forward and bends in a left footed effort which the keeper appears to have saved but soft hands meant it looped into the net instead of over the bar. Lambe tries his luck from outside the box but it's straight at the keeper. A timely goal in stoppage time as more good work on the right sees a low right wing cross met by a brave diving header from Coulthirst inches off the ground at the near post and it nestles in the bottom corner of the net.
Having failed to impress in the first half, the visitors came out clearly having been reprimanded in the dressing room at half time. They made 2 subs and started to use their physicality and hit the ball quicker and longer and a shot in the first minute is comfortable for Sims. to take in his midriff. Five minutes in and Payne sends Blair free on the right he drives in to the box on the angle and chooses to square the ball instead of shooting but only finds a defender. Same again five minutes later, this time Davies feeds Blair down the left wing, as he gets into the area with his marker by his side, this time he elects to shoot left footed but finds the side netting. For all their possession the visitors are finding it hard to make any clear chances, but come close from a left wing corner which sees a header hit the bar. On 66 minutes, Braintree make their first substitution with Ward relaced by Georgiou. As the game goes on, Braintree attacks are becoming rarer and eventually the pressure pays off. Having dealt with everything put into the box, this time the headed clearance falls to Anifewose who hits a first time dipping shot into the corner of the net. Braintree almost restore their their two goal lead two minutes later as a cross into the box from the left is dropped by the keeper, it falls for Georgoiu but the keeper is back up quickly to block and it's scrambled away. Ben Watt then comes on for Blackwell who's had a fairly quiet game. With ten minutes left and Hampton still searching for an equaliser, Blair is withdrawn for Miccio as everything is pumped long by the visitors. Still the Iron hang on in there as the board goes up for 6 added minutes. For five of those minutes the Iron stand firm, then they get a break away and Watt carries the ball down the left wing as a defender comes across he looks up and delivers a perfect pass to Coulthirst near the penalty spot, he calmly controls it, looks up and slots it just inside the post.
A good win and you could see the lads grow in confidence as the game progressed. with two more home games to follow and 10 days before the next one, it's time to regroup and plot our way back into the play-offs.
Having failed to impress in the first half, the visitors came out clearly having been reprimanded in the dressing room at half time. They made 2 subs and started to use their physicality and hit the ball quicker and longer and a shot in the first minute is comfortable for Sims. to take in his midriff. Five minutes in and Payne sends Blair free on the right he drives in to the box on the angle and chooses to square the ball instead of shooting but only finds a defender. Same again five minutes later, this time Davies feeds Blair down the left wing, as he gets into the area with his marker by his side, this time he elects to shoot left footed but finds the side netting. For all their possession the visitors are finding it hard to make any clear chances, but come close from a left wing corner which sees a header hit the bar. On 66 minutes, Braintree make their first substitution with Ward relaced by Georgiou. As the game goes on, Braintree attacks are becoming rarer and eventually the pressure pays off. Having dealt with everything put into the box, this time the headed clearance falls to Anifewose who hits a first time dipping shot into the corner of the net. Braintree almost restore their their two goal lead two minutes later as a cross into the box from the left is dropped by the keeper, it falls for Georgoiu but the keeper is back up quickly to block and it's scrambled away. Ben Watt then comes on for Blackwell who's had a fairly quiet game. With ten minutes left and Hampton still searching for an equaliser, Blair is withdrawn for Miccio as everything is pumped long by the visitors. Still the Iron hang on in there as the board goes up for 6 added minutes. For five of those minutes the Iron stand firm, then they get a break away and Watt carries the ball down the left wing as a defender comes across he looks up and delivers a perfect pass to Coulthirst near the penalty spot, he calmly controls it, looks up and slots it just inside the post.
A good win and you could see the lads grow in confidence as the game progressed. with two more home games to follow and 10 days before the next one, it's time to regroup and plot our way back into the play-offs.