Post by admin on Mar 2, 2024 20:16:06 GMT
Welling Utd 2 Braintree Town 2
by David Ward
Despite their second half dominance the Iron had to settle for a draw on what was a really heavy pitch at Park View Road on Saturday but still leaving manager Angelo Harrop satisfied with a point in what was his 100th game in charge at the club.
"I knew it would be a really tough game against a side fighting possible relegation and also a playing surface which I knew would be hard for us to play our style of football," he declared. "So I'm pleased with a point which I think was a fair outcome of the game and the pitch is no excuse at the end of the day you have to adapt which I felt we did better in the second half.
"It's been a long journey since I came to the club 18 months ago and I think we have made real progress and the players we have now are a really good group, working for the team and the club and like today always show so much commitment, energy and determination."
Harrop went on: "There's a great buzz around the place and I'm really proud to be the manager of this football club and we've achieved so much in my time here.
"We know there's still a long way to go this season and obviously everyone is working hard to maintain our current form and again make the play-offs which would be a wonderful achievement," he continued. "This is the third successive away game against really strong, tough opposition and we've collected seven out of a possible nine points."
The Iron are now on a run of 10 games without being beaten but Harrop knows there are more hard matches to come adding: "We've Slough at home next Saturday and they are a strong side, going well and we do owe them one as we didn't play well and lost at their place earlier.
"I hope as many fans will come to that game and support the team as they have today at this game in Welling," he continued. "The vocal support from our fans at every game, home or away, has been tremendous this season and it does mean so much to the players."
For the Welling game the manager stayed with the eleven that finished at Bath City in midweek with Jayden Davis starting and Reggie Lambe relegated to the bench.
The first half was fairly even with the home side kicking down the infamous slope and they took the lead on 10 minutes with a close range effort that beat keeper Jack Sims,
The Iron though kept working away and were rewarded with an equaliser on 38 minutes after good work by Shaquille Coulhirst who saw his goal bound shot cleared almost from on the line but the ever alert Aaron Blair was sharp enough to grab the rebound and fire the ball into the net.
Just when it looked to be all level at half time on the 45th minute the home side were somewhat lucky to be given a dubious penalty when the ball literally bounced up to the hand of Dominic Odusanya and surprisingly the referee gave a penalty from which the home side retook the lead.
But in the fifth minute of added time the Iron push hard for an equaliser and this time the handball by a home defender was far more convincing and it was left Coulhirst to drive home the resultant spot kick.
The second saw the Iron in the ascendancy and several times they worked the ball well into the home area only to miss that final crucial touch to put it in the back of the net.
On the rare occasions the home retaliated it was left to Iron keeper Sims to come to the rescue and pull off two exceptional saves later on.
So overall frustration for the Iron fans in the crowd that they didn't see their side get the crucial winning goal they deserved on their second half showing and it ended with the two side sharing a point each.
The Iron will also have experienced striker Alfie Pavey back from suspension for the Slough game.