Post by dbbn on Mar 29, 2023 9:06:30 GMT
Braintree Town v Dover Athletic.
Saturday sees the Iron come up against seventeenth placed Dover Athletic at the Dunmow Group Stadium. Having been relegated from the National League last season following a big points reduction, manager Andy Hessenthaler has not been able to improve their fortunes this season and left by mutual agreement at the start of 2023.
His replacement is well known to Iron fans, former utility player Mitch Brundle has taken up the reins and at twenty eight, Mitch becomes one of the UK’s youngest managers. Mitch made seventy seven appearances, scoring seven goals for the Iron between 2014 & 2016 having previously been on Bristol City’s books. On leaving Braintree, Mitch went on to play for Gateshead, Dover Athletic, Dagenham & Redbridge, Barnet and Farnborough before returning to Dover in 2022.
Dover’s record so far this season is P 39 W 11 D 11 L 17 GF 37 GA 54 Points 44 which is five points above the relegation zone. Under Brundle’s leadership, the team remain inconsistent having P 16 W 4 D 4 L 8 GF 8 GA 22 Points 16. They have lost their last four games conceding three goals in all but one of them whilst scoring goals is a problem. They are the second lowest scorers in the League.
Their top scorer was Alfie Pavey with ten goals, but the striker will not be able to add to that total against his former club as he serves his last game of his suspension. Luke Wanadio now leads their scoring charts with eight goals.
Another former Iron player now at the Crabbe is centre back Jake Goodman.
The away fixture played on 8 October 2022 saw Dover win by three goals to one. Pavey scored twice that day, their third came from Chike Kandi who has also left the club to play for Farnborough. The Iron scorer that day was Baris Altintop.
The last time we hosted was on 27 October 2018 where goals from Justin Amaluzor and a Reece Grant penalty either side of a Kevin Lokko strike for the visitors, gave Braintree all three points. Here are the Braintree goals: www.youtube.com/watch?v=j3XWkszTvNg www.youtube.com/watch?v=7xloLM0XiMQ
Dover are not the only team on a losing streak, as Braintree’s last two League matches have brought defeats to two teams also fighting relegation – Hungerford Town and Taunton Town. Last Saturday’s defeat to the Somerset based team saw the Iron meekly surrender their unbeaten home record, clearly missing the influence of injured skipper John White and front man Pavey creating very little against a team who have one of the best defensive record in the VNLS.
Midweek results also saw the Iron slip another place to sixth in the play-off zone as St Albans won their game against another play-off contender Havant & Waterlooville. With six games left for the Iron and only six points between third placed Oxford City and tenth placed Tonbridge Angels, the Iron need to pick up their form fast to achieve their ambitions.
Saturday sees the Iron come up against seventeenth placed Dover Athletic at the Dunmow Group Stadium. Having been relegated from the National League last season following a big points reduction, manager Andy Hessenthaler has not been able to improve their fortunes this season and left by mutual agreement at the start of 2023.
His replacement is well known to Iron fans, former utility player Mitch Brundle has taken up the reins and at twenty eight, Mitch becomes one of the UK’s youngest managers. Mitch made seventy seven appearances, scoring seven goals for the Iron between 2014 & 2016 having previously been on Bristol City’s books. On leaving Braintree, Mitch went on to play for Gateshead, Dover Athletic, Dagenham & Redbridge, Barnet and Farnborough before returning to Dover in 2022.
Dover’s record so far this season is P 39 W 11 D 11 L 17 GF 37 GA 54 Points 44 which is five points above the relegation zone. Under Brundle’s leadership, the team remain inconsistent having P 16 W 4 D 4 L 8 GF 8 GA 22 Points 16. They have lost their last four games conceding three goals in all but one of them whilst scoring goals is a problem. They are the second lowest scorers in the League.
Their top scorer was Alfie Pavey with ten goals, but the striker will not be able to add to that total against his former club as he serves his last game of his suspension. Luke Wanadio now leads their scoring charts with eight goals.
Another former Iron player now at the Crabbe is centre back Jake Goodman.
The away fixture played on 8 October 2022 saw Dover win by three goals to one. Pavey scored twice that day, their third came from Chike Kandi who has also left the club to play for Farnborough. The Iron scorer that day was Baris Altintop.
The last time we hosted was on 27 October 2018 where goals from Justin Amaluzor and a Reece Grant penalty either side of a Kevin Lokko strike for the visitors, gave Braintree all three points. Here are the Braintree goals: www.youtube.com/watch?v=j3XWkszTvNg www.youtube.com/watch?v=7xloLM0XiMQ
Dover are not the only team on a losing streak, as Braintree’s last two League matches have brought defeats to two teams also fighting relegation – Hungerford Town and Taunton Town. Last Saturday’s defeat to the Somerset based team saw the Iron meekly surrender their unbeaten home record, clearly missing the influence of injured skipper John White and front man Pavey creating very little against a team who have one of the best defensive record in the VNLS.
Midweek results also saw the Iron slip another place to sixth in the play-off zone as St Albans won their game against another play-off contender Havant & Waterlooville. With six games left for the Iron and only six points between third placed Oxford City and tenth placed Tonbridge Angels, the Iron need to pick up their form fast to achieve their ambitions.