Post by dbbn on Apr 1, 2023 17:09:08 GMT
It's now three defeats on the bounce for the toothless Iron as Dover became the first team to record a win double over us this season. Yet it could have been all so different had the home side taken a plethora of early chances in the opening ten minutes or so. Baris Altintop was given the captains armband as White was still on the bench. Five minutes in and Blair gets the ball ahead of the keeper, rounds him but is sent wide and towards the touchline he goes towards goal and with a defender on the line decides to shoot from a narrow angle and hits the post out. Two minutes after that and the keeper loses it again, on the edge of the box to Blair it falls to Reynolds and with an empty net, he shoots wide. Another two minutes before another great chance arrives, down the left Reynolds and Blair link up and the top scorer goes for a curler from the left edge of the box, but it's too high. Farrell then is sent away down the left flank by Reynolds and his driven cross evades everyone with no one coming in at the back post. After all those opening endeavours, it was a bolt from the blue when the visitors took the lead on 26 minutes. It started with a drop kick from Sims, the Dover centre half headed it back down the middle of the pitch where Pierrick picks it up, he spots Wanadio overlapping on the right an th winger drives in and shoots from the angle of the box across Sims and into the far corner of the net. Buoyed by that goal they have the next effort when a Braintree clearance drops 25 yards out to Nikaj who's 25 yard half volley is tipped away with Sims diving full stretch to his left. Braintree's next effort sees a deep cross from the right deflect off a defender to Matthews beyond the far post, he heads it for goal but the keeper catches it just under the crossbar. The midfielder didn't have to wait long for his next chance, Blair again dispossess his man on the left and lays it back to Matthews just outside the left of the penalty area and he hits a powerful first time shot which nestles in the far corner of the net. In first half stoppage time, Blair again wins the ball off his man and Farrell smashes it over the bar.
Dover mad a better start in the second half and the trick Wanadio drives in a cross/shot across the box, but no one is alert to finish it off. Chances are not coming as easily in this half and it's past the hour before the next big chance for Braintree arrives. Matthews takes a free kick out on the right halfway inside the visitors half, it curls in and Altintop mts it with an outstretched boot, but with no real control, it balloons over the bar. Soon after Blair is sent away down the left by Farrell, he draws two defenders, nips between them and side foots across goal and like the visitors chance at the beginning of the half, no one is following it in. Reynolds who's had a quiet game is replaced by Rush. Dover then counter a retake the lead, this time the roles are reversed with Wanadio jinking his way past a couple of Braintree players and crossing for Pierrick to hammer it home as Sims parries the original shot into his path. Matthews is then replaced by Janneh. Janneh has an effort set up by Blair on the edge of the box, but a late block challenge stifles his shot There's then a couple of goal mouth scrambles as Braintree look to level but in each case the Dover defence get it off the line. The final sub sees Harley on for Davies. Another Iron chance with Regis shooting from just inside the box it deflects and beats the keeper but a defender desperately get it away. Five minutes are added on and with a minute left and with players pushed up field Clements wins a header from Farrell's cross and drops to Rush who smashes it in to the net, but it's ruled out for offside. Dover go down the other end and their striker goes down under a challenge from behind and a penalty is rightly given. Wanadio takes it, Sims saves it but Wanadio pounces on the rebound to score.
The Iron cling on to their play-off spot and will welcome Pavey back for their next game. These last few fixtures have seen too much pumping the ball long and not getting it down to play, but the chances were there for the taking today. Next up play-off contenders St Albans City away on Friday.
Dover mad a better start in the second half and the trick Wanadio drives in a cross/shot across the box, but no one is alert to finish it off. Chances are not coming as easily in this half and it's past the hour before the next big chance for Braintree arrives. Matthews takes a free kick out on the right halfway inside the visitors half, it curls in and Altintop mts it with an outstretched boot, but with no real control, it balloons over the bar. Soon after Blair is sent away down the left by Farrell, he draws two defenders, nips between them and side foots across goal and like the visitors chance at the beginning of the half, no one is following it in. Reynolds who's had a quiet game is replaced by Rush. Dover then counter a retake the lead, this time the roles are reversed with Wanadio jinking his way past a couple of Braintree players and crossing for Pierrick to hammer it home as Sims parries the original shot into his path. Matthews is then replaced by Janneh. Janneh has an effort set up by Blair on the edge of the box, but a late block challenge stifles his shot There's then a couple of goal mouth scrambles as Braintree look to level but in each case the Dover defence get it off the line. The final sub sees Harley on for Davies. Another Iron chance with Regis shooting from just inside the box it deflects and beats the keeper but a defender desperately get it away. Five minutes are added on and with a minute left and with players pushed up field Clements wins a header from Farrell's cross and drops to Rush who smashes it in to the net, but it's ruled out for offside. Dover go down the other end and their striker goes down under a challenge from behind and a penalty is rightly given. Wanadio takes it, Sims saves it but Wanadio pounces on the rebound to score.
The Iron cling on to their play-off spot and will welcome Pavey back for their next game. These last few fixtures have seen too much pumping the ball long and not getting it down to play, but the chances were there for the taking today. Next up play-off contenders St Albans City away on Friday.
