Post by dbbn on Mar 12, 2024 23:19:13 GMT
Braintree gained ground on the clubs above them in the VNLS table as they overcame a stubborn, but blunt Dartford side at the Rare Breed Meat Company Stadium tonight. There were three chsanges from Saturdays line-up with new signing straight into the side along with a rare start at left back for Lewis Miccio and after an imprssive second half against Slough, Regie Lambe made the starting XI, Leon Davies, Alfie Payne and Jajden Davis all making way, in what looked to be a 4 -4-2 formation. It was a lively start to the game with both sides looking quite open as they went in search of an opening goal. Odusanya in centre midfield would dictate a lot of the Iron's early play, using both wings to ping balls out to Blackwell and Blair and in the second minute he finds Blackwell out on the left who controls the ball and goes at his man, crossing for Sears who's shot is deflected for a corner. Miccio is backing up Blackwell down the left flank and he is next to put in a decent cross which the keeper makes a mess of and as the ball comes out to the edge of the box Altintop comes in and hits it first time left footed, when he probably had more time to control it, and the ball sails ove the bar. Sears the cuts in off the left and tries his luck from distance on the angle, but he too fires over. Blackwell is causing all kinds of havoc down the left and a low cross finnds Sears but this time his effort on the angle is stopped by a last ditch block. Blackwell goes again and this time as he cuts into the area decides to go it alone but his powerful shot is straight at the keeper on the near post. It's all Braintree, Dartford counter often but cannot find any incisive pass/cross to overly trouble the Iron defence. Sears again has a sho blocked and from the resulting corner, Grimwood heads one looping back across goal, the keeper scramble to claim it and it looks suspiciously close to crossing the line, but the linio thinks differently. Sears is on the charge and looks to play in Blair , but again a corner is conceded. Blackwell delivers a ball into the centre of the box where Coulthirst about 8 yards out glances it into the net. There are more blocks from Sears and Blackwell to prevent a second goal in a rare counter, Greenidge manages to evade a couple of Braintree defenders but is stopped in his tracks by Altintop. From another Blackwell corner, Altintop rises but makes a poor connection whislt Dartford then get their best chance of the half when a cross isn't fully cleared and with Sims off his line Smoth's effort from 25 yards curls wide of the post. In first half stoppage time there's almost a second, again it's Odusanya spreading the ball left to right, Blair takes it down really well playing in Coulthirts who sweeps a shot goal wards and just evades the far post.
The second half saw more of the same Braintree getting it out wide with Balckwell prominent on the left and Blair on the right, but lots of crosses are blocked or they don't fall to an orange shirt or plaers have their backs to goal and can't work an opening. Sears has a clear sight of goal after Lambe plays a delightfully chipped ball over the full back, Blair races onto it and feeds Sears who's first time effort is again blocked. Coulthirst is next to have a shot on target but lacks an real power and is straight at the keeper. Altintop raids down the right and puts in an inviting cross eventually it arives at Blackwell's feet but he cannot finish and it's scrambled away. Blair is sent away on the counter and having outpaced the defence and got into the area powers his shot over the bar. Coulthirst also has two efforts blocked by more desperate defending, whilst in a rare Dartford foray a good cross for Greenidge is mis-directed and goes wide. The Iron desperatley need a second to put the game to bed and you begin to wonder if all the missed chances would be costly. Miccio is the first to be subbed for Leon Davies, followed 5 minutes later by Wakefield for Sears. Blair gats away again, this time more central but another last ditch block denies him. Then another great chance for Dartford as they finally get player in beyond the back line, Alex Wall not on long as a sub is free on the inside right with the goal at his mercy, he shoots early and wildly and it cleart he Quag End. Reggie Lambe is then replaced by Alfie Payne. The end was in sight for the Darts with one minute left as Geenidge lunges in late on Sims who has gathered a low shot and the big front man recently signed from Tonbridge is shown a red card. Six minutes of added time and Dartford manage to get in another shot that eludeds Sims but it goes wide. With 2 minutes left, the overdue goal finally arrives, Wakefield cuts in off the right flank, dribles inside looking for an opening, he feed Blackwell who takes his marker into the box, feigns to cross then shoos low and hard into the net to seal the points and send Dartfors into the bottom four.
Next up, a tricky double header with Weymouth.
The second half saw more of the same Braintree getting it out wide with Balckwell prominent on the left and Blair on the right, but lots of crosses are blocked or they don't fall to an orange shirt or plaers have their backs to goal and can't work an opening. Sears has a clear sight of goal after Lambe plays a delightfully chipped ball over the full back, Blair races onto it and feeds Sears who's first time effort is again blocked. Coulthirst is next to have a shot on target but lacks an real power and is straight at the keeper. Altintop raids down the right and puts in an inviting cross eventually it arives at Blackwell's feet but he cannot finish and it's scrambled away. Blair is sent away on the counter and having outpaced the defence and got into the area powers his shot over the bar. Coulthirst also has two efforts blocked by more desperate defending, whilst in a rare Dartford foray a good cross for Greenidge is mis-directed and goes wide. The Iron desperatley need a second to put the game to bed and you begin to wonder if all the missed chances would be costly. Miccio is the first to be subbed for Leon Davies, followed 5 minutes later by Wakefield for Sears. Blair gats away again, this time more central but another last ditch block denies him. Then another great chance for Dartford as they finally get player in beyond the back line, Alex Wall not on long as a sub is free on the inside right with the goal at his mercy, he shoots early and wildly and it cleart he Quag End. Reggie Lambe is then replaced by Alfie Payne. The end was in sight for the Darts with one minute left as Geenidge lunges in late on Sims who has gathered a low shot and the big front man recently signed from Tonbridge is shown a red card. Six minutes of added time and Dartford manage to get in another shot that eludeds Sims but it goes wide. With 2 minutes left, the overdue goal finally arrives, Wakefield cuts in off the right flank, dribles inside looking for an opening, he feed Blackwell who takes his marker into the box, feigns to cross then shoos low and hard into the net to seal the points and send Dartfors into the bottom four.
Next up, a tricky double header with Weymouth.