Post by dbbn on Apr 1, 2024 17:37:59 GMT
In the end it was a comfortable win for the Iron after a fairly mundane first half display. It was an unchanged starting XI from the Good Friday win at St Albans that took to the pitch to face a physical Hemel side that included former Iron centre back Josh Hill. Early on Blackwell was the route forward and had the beating of his marker on a couple of occasions, firstly he plays in a good early ball behind the Hemel backline into the path of Sears, he collects it just outside the box, but instead of taking it on himself, lays it back short to Jayden Davis who's shot is blocked. Two minutes later a he eludes one challenge and breaks into the box but a defender gets across to concede a corner. Hemel are very direct and just lumping the ball forward, from one such "pass" which is overhit, there's a breakdown in communication as Rendall heads it backwards with his back to goal, whilst Sims was coming forward to claim it and the ball thankfully bounces wide against the outside of the side netting. Blackwell gets away again on the right and puts in a low cross but it deflects off a defender and into the keeper's arms. The Iron get a free kick close to the edge of the area on the right after Hill trips Blair. Blackwell tries to curl it around the wall, but it's wide of the target. Just past the half hour and Sims bowls it out to Blackwell who scampers down the right wing, eventually winning a corner as the ball comes off a defenders hand. From the corner, Blackwell hits an outswinger low towards the edge of the box and Sears comes across to hit it first time, but wide. Hemel's best chance comes five minutes before the break, they have relied in set pieces/corners and long throws and from a corner they win a couple of headers and the ball drops to Hill 8 yards out and he smashes it over the bar. Braintree counter and Blackwell has swapped wings, and after being released decides to come in off the flank and curls one towards goal, but it's just too high. A scrappy/bitty first half ends with no real clear cut chance for the Iron.
Braintree start better in the second half, keeping the ball and moving it around, Davis is played in down the left, he takes his man on cutting inside he fires one in which deflects off a defenders head which toohk some of the pace off it and the keeper is able to claim it. Iaciofano on as a sub for Hemel is put through the middle but Sims comes out and stands his ground and blocks the shot. Eight minutes into the second half and the Iron break the deadlock. Blackwell puts in a right wing corner, Grimwood is first to meet it and direct it towards the back post where Blair rises to head it home. The Iron have been better in possession this half and are controlling the game well. On the hour Blair is slipped in down the left, he cuts inside trying to work an opening for a shot but when he does shoot it's deflected taking all the pace off it into the keeper's arms. Blair would grab his second minutes later, poor defending from Hemel and suddenly Blair is running through on goal just from outside the box, he draws the keeper, side-foots it, it's not the cleanest/hardest strike but has enough to make it over the line after glancing off the keeper. The Hemel keeper is booked, Altintop and a Hemel defender are involved in some pushing/shoving and the keeper comes running out to get involved with Baris walking away from the melee. Wakefield comes on for Davis, followed five minutes by Lambe on for Sears and a third sun with ten minutes left sees Miccio on for Blackwell. Blair is hunting a hat trick and has two defenders backing off him, with Hill chasing back and the former Iron man cynically trips Blair from behind and gets a yellow card. Not long after that and there's another flashpoint, not involving the Hemel keeper, but he comes racing out again and the ref shows him a second yellow, followed by a red. He'd really lost the plot and with the fans behind also bating him, the crowd roll a stray ball out towards him as he makes his way off the pitch which he duly despatches back towards the Iron fans. Josh Hill dons the keepers shirt as they have already used all their subs. Blair is still seeking his third and again played in down the left cuts inside and hits one from just outside the box and with Hill wrongfooted, the ball goes wide of the post. The game peters out in the final minutes and the Iron get the three points after a much improved second half.
Results elsewhere mainly favoured the Iron today with Maidstone drawing meaning their game in hand now means they can draw level on points with us, but with a worse goal difference. The Iron now need 4 more points to secure a play-off spot.
John White on the game:
Braintree start better in the second half, keeping the ball and moving it around, Davis is played in down the left, he takes his man on cutting inside he fires one in which deflects off a defenders head which toohk some of the pace off it and the keeper is able to claim it. Iaciofano on as a sub for Hemel is put through the middle but Sims comes out and stands his ground and blocks the shot. Eight minutes into the second half and the Iron break the deadlock. Blackwell puts in a right wing corner, Grimwood is first to meet it and direct it towards the back post where Blair rises to head it home. The Iron have been better in possession this half and are controlling the game well. On the hour Blair is slipped in down the left, he cuts inside trying to work an opening for a shot but when he does shoot it's deflected taking all the pace off it into the keeper's arms. Blair would grab his second minutes later, poor defending from Hemel and suddenly Blair is running through on goal just from outside the box, he draws the keeper, side-foots it, it's not the cleanest/hardest strike but has enough to make it over the line after glancing off the keeper. The Hemel keeper is booked, Altintop and a Hemel defender are involved in some pushing/shoving and the keeper comes running out to get involved with Baris walking away from the melee. Wakefield comes on for Davis, followed five minutes by Lambe on for Sears and a third sun with ten minutes left sees Miccio on for Blackwell. Blair is hunting a hat trick and has two defenders backing off him, with Hill chasing back and the former Iron man cynically trips Blair from behind and gets a yellow card. Not long after that and there's another flashpoint, not involving the Hemel keeper, but he comes racing out again and the ref shows him a second yellow, followed by a red. He'd really lost the plot and with the fans behind also bating him, the crowd roll a stray ball out towards him as he makes his way off the pitch which he duly despatches back towards the Iron fans. Josh Hill dons the keepers shirt as they have already used all their subs. Blair is still seeking his third and again played in down the left cuts inside and hits one from just outside the box and with Hill wrongfooted, the ball goes wide of the post. The game peters out in the final minutes and the Iron get the three points after a much improved second half.
Results elsewhere mainly favoured the Iron today with Maidstone drawing meaning their game in hand now means they can draw level on points with us, but with a worse goal difference. The Iron now need 4 more points to secure a play-off spot.
John White on the game: