Post by dbbn on Apr 9, 2024 22:26:41 GMT
It was a poor night for the Iron as they lost their grip on third place and ended the evening in fifth as they failed to overcome a relegation threatened Taunton side, who maintained their unbeaten record against us. In conditions not too disimilar to those on the openong day of thes season when it was wet and blsustery, the Iron lacked that killer touch to see off a dogged opponent. Starting with an unchanged starting XI from the successful trip to Weston-Super-Mare on Satruday, the opening exchanges lacked little quality witha lot of head tennis in the middle of the park. Out of the blue on eight minutes a long ball up fiels into the Taunton half was headed away and collected 30+ yards out buy Sears who hit a first time lofted effort at goal which cleraed the advanced keeper and just over the bar. Two minutes later and the visitors were gifted a chance to open the scoring, they break into the right side of the area and although the striker gets a shot off, Sims is fractionally late in getting down to claim the ball and brings him down as the ball rolls wide of the goal. Ross Stearn who has a knack of scoring against us stepped up, hits it well to Sims right, but it's a good height and the stopper redeems himself turning the ball away for a corner. Braintree are quite slow in their build up play and often resort to a punt down the line which either goes out or is over hit. When the wide men do get in, the crosses are blocked or overhit or lack of orange shirts means they're cleared. On 18 minutes a rehearsed corner we've seen before almost brings a goal, Blackwell drives it low into the box and Sears comes from deep to hit it first time, it's onn target and going in but adefender flings his body at the ball and amid criies of handball, it goes out for a corner. Odusanya is the next to try his luck from 30 yards but it's cental and staright at the keeper. On 28 minutes Grimwood hits a searching long ball down the middle of the park, Wakefield is gets in beyond the last defender but a poor attempt at bringing the ball down sees it gathered by the keeper. Odusanya is beginning to spread play a bit more and Wakefield again is picked out on the right, he drives to the byline and sends in a low cross which Blackwell back heels but misses the target. A couple of minutes before the break and Blair cuts in from the right outpaces his marker into the box and hits one on the angle which the keeper diverts out for a corner. In the final minute of first half stoppage time the last effort of the half comes fromBlackwell, now on the right comes in and tries a left fotted curler which is a foot or so wide of the top corner of the goal.
There's a half time sub with Leon Davies replaced by Miccio, Davies had been quite wasteful in possession in the first 45 minutes. The tempo now was much quicker in getting the ball moving and again using the flanks. Thera re coprners and crosses aplenty, from one corner Rendall has the chance from close to the penalty spot but doesn't really get hold of it. Wakefir=eld is looking livelier this half and drives at towards the box off the left and his effort from 20 yards is tipped over by the keeper. A free kick on the right is delivered with pace by Blackwell, Grmwood meets it at the near post but it glances off hismarker and out for a corner. Depite the lions share of the ball, too many crosses are not getting past the first defender or don't drop to an orange shirt. Just past the hour and Coulthirst comes on for Sears. Ona rare Taunton counter, Day who has carried the ball well let's one fly from 25 yards after beating a couple of players, but it goes just wide of Sim's goal. On 70 minutes and again it's good work down the left flank and Blackwell is in on goal after a one-two and goes for the right footed across goal but again it's wide. From another Blackwell corner Coulthirst meets it 8 yards out but gets slightly underneath it and puts it over the bar.Balckwell is the replaced by Jayden Davis. With 10 minutes to go in an incident I didn't see maanager Angelo Harrop is sent off. Coulthirts links up with Wakefield who sets him up for a shot on the edge of the box but again it clears the crossbar. Taunton threaten again on the counter and Stearn firs across goal left to riht and wide of the far post. Five minutes of added time and the Iron are out of steam and ideas.
Two points dropped and that treasured thired place spot gone. Next up another relegation threatened team - Havant & Waterlooville away on Saturday, if the Hawks lose they are relegated. Rivals Maidstone and Worthing are also away, the Stones at Truro and Worthing at St Albans, at the moment it's looking like a fifth placed finish for the Iron.
There's a half time sub with Leon Davies replaced by Miccio, Davies had been quite wasteful in possession in the first 45 minutes. The tempo now was much quicker in getting the ball moving and again using the flanks. Thera re coprners and crosses aplenty, from one corner Rendall has the chance from close to the penalty spot but doesn't really get hold of it. Wakefir=eld is looking livelier this half and drives at towards the box off the left and his effort from 20 yards is tipped over by the keeper. A free kick on the right is delivered with pace by Blackwell, Grmwood meets it at the near post but it glances off hismarker and out for a corner. Depite the lions share of the ball, too many crosses are not getting past the first defender or don't drop to an orange shirt. Just past the hour and Coulthirst comes on for Sears. Ona rare Taunton counter, Day who has carried the ball well let's one fly from 25 yards after beating a couple of players, but it goes just wide of Sim's goal. On 70 minutes and again it's good work down the left flank and Blackwell is in on goal after a one-two and goes for the right footed across goal but again it's wide. From another Blackwell corner Coulthirst meets it 8 yards out but gets slightly underneath it and puts it over the bar.Balckwell is the replaced by Jayden Davis. With 10 minutes to go in an incident I didn't see maanager Angelo Harrop is sent off. Coulthirts links up with Wakefield who sets him up for a shot on the edge of the box but again it clears the crossbar. Taunton threaten again on the counter and Stearn firs across goal left to riht and wide of the far post. Five minutes of added time and the Iron are out of steam and ideas.
Two points dropped and that treasured thired place spot gone. Next up another relegation threatened team - Havant & Waterlooville away on Saturday, if the Hawks lose they are relegated. Rivals Maidstone and Worthing are also away, the Stones at Truro and Worthing at St Albans, at the moment it's looking like a fifth placed finish for the Iron.
