Post by dbbn on Feb 20, 2024 22:50:02 GMT
Joe Grimwood heads - pic by Jon Weaver.
A tight game at the Rare Breed Meat Company Stadium tonight was settled by a rare moment of quality in a pretty scrappy game. With Angelo still in warmer climes, John White made on change to the starting XI from Saturday's win over Torquay United giving a start to Charlie Wakefield ahead of Jayden Davis. The Iron were the more offensive side throughout the first half without really threatening the visitor's goal. Wakefield was the first to have a pop at goal coming off the left flank on the angle trying a long range effort which the keeper gathered easily. On seventeen minutes a long cross field ball from Blair to Blackwell on the right was brilliantly taken down , he then took his man on cutting inside towards the edge of the box letting fly with a left footed shot that just cleared the bar. Wakefield again tried another ambitious long effort but sends it wide. On the half hour the visitors had their first effort on target a strike from 20 yards which was comfortable for Sims. From an Iron corner Blackwell sends an in-swinging corner to the near post, Pavey glances it on and Altintop at the back stick but under pressure he puts it over the bar from close range. Four minutes before half time and a good chance for Angels centre forward heads wide from close range.
The second half was played at a higher tempo with Tonbridge on the attack, Shield dives under challenge in the area, but rightly the ref doesn't buy it. The pace of Blair and Blackwell is causing the Angels back line trouble and despite a few offsides they get this one right and Blackwell is slid in inside the right hand side of the area he shoots under pressure but it's straight at the keeper. At the other end Sims has to plaay sweeper to beat an Angels forward to a through ball. Straight back down the other end and another Blackwell effort is saved as it lacks any power. On sixty five minutes Wakefield is withdrawn and Davis comes on. Tonbridge are suddenly showing more aggression going forward and Tompkins deflects a goal bound effort wide. Pavey is the withdrawn with an injury and Coulthirst is on. Tonbridge are looking the more likely to break the deadline and another shot from the edge of the box is just wide of the post. Sims is called into action pushing away a drive across goal. The game is pretty even going from end to end in the closing stages and a Blackwell deep cross is taken first time by Davis, but it's slightly behind him and he volleys it over the bar. Good play just outside the area by Lambe and he plays a through ball for Davis leaving him with a one on one with the keeper on the angle, but he doesn't lift it and it's smothered by the keeper. Braintree are now the more likely and moving the ball well outside the area, Payne is out wide on the left and sweeps in a tempting cross which Davis who looks offside, drills in at the far post. Six minutes are added on and Miccio comes on to replace the goal scorer. In the final minute there's a good cross into the Iron area, the Angels player angles his header into the grateful hands of Sims when a straight header would've beaten him all ends up. That's the last scare of the night and the Iron re-claim seventh spot in the table.