Post by admin on Apr 7, 2023 23:06:11 GMT
Goals by Altintop 36 mins and Pavey on 52 mins clinch all three points for Iron.
Match Report:
St Albans City 0 Braintree Town 2
by David Ward
This was a crucial win for the Iron that keeps them firmly in the promotion play-off places and ends their recent mini slump of three league defeats and also they did in style completely controlling the game against fellow promotion chasers at Clarence Park on Saturday.
It was also no surprise that the main difference for the Iron's turn around was the return of striker Alfie Pavey after his three game suspension because he caused problems for the home defence all afternoon whilst crucially he scored the second goal seven minutes into the half that effectively ends the match as a contest.
The experience of Pavey has certainly been missed and his return certainly galvanised his team mates into all putting in a shift with far more commitment, aggression and simply playing a great passing game than Iron fans have seen recently.
It delighted manager Angelo Harrop who said: "We know we have missed him and it shows how important he is to the team but full credit to all the other players for responding in the way they did in this game.
"We know we shouldn't have lost those recent games and I had told the players in no uncertain terms not to waste all the hard work they've done this season," continued. "Our football was so much better, I believe we got the tactics right here because we knew it would be a hard game against a fellow chasing promotion side playing on their own ground.
"So I am doubly pleased how we've come back to win this really important game and also pleased at the way the players stuck to the game plan," he revealed. "We simply now have to keep repeating this impressive performance game by game until the end of the season and there's no reason why the players can't - it's all in the mind as they old saying goes."
Harrop is also hoping experienced skipper John White, who has missed recent games through injury, will be in the mix for Easter Monday's big home game against newly crowned league champions Ebbsfleet (kick off 3pm) with Harrop adding: "We have sorely missed him because of his leadership and experience and we're looking obviously for a home win front of a bumper Bank Holiday crowd.
"Ebbsfleet fully deserve the title because they have been outstanding all season and clearly are head and shoulders above every other team," he added. "We had a good game at their place earlier in the season and we were narrowly beaten so hopeful the players will be on form as in this match to get a result."
Against St Albans the Iron were always the better side and created far more chances and always looked more likely to score when pushing forward and should have come in at half time with more than a one goal lead.
The opening goal came on 36 minutes and remains a bone of contention as to who actually scored it - Baris Altintop or Kyron Clements - because from a long throw in from the left by Kyron Farrell the ball was headed goal wards on to the bar and down by Altintop but Clements followed to drive the ball into the net.
Later according to referee Ruebyn Ricardo the goal should be credited to Clements but no doubt the two Iron defenders will argue over it for some time.
There's was no doubting though who scored Iron's important second goal on 52 minutes when a looping ball forward on the edge of the home area from Aaron Blair was met by Pavey who rose above everyone to head the ball into the net much to the pleasure of the 100 or so Iron fans in the match day crowd of 1,905.
It was certainly not a case of the Iron holding on from then onwards either because they continued to push forward and in reality they should have added a couple of more goals before the final whistle.
At the other end the home side rarely threatened but when they did Iron keeper Jack Sims was more than competent to save what was necessary and keep his side with a clean sheet on the day.
"Great win, excellent performance from everyone, fantastic support from our fans but we forget about it now and concentrate on repeating this performance in our next game," added Harrop.
Match Report:
St Albans City 0 Braintree Town 2
by David Ward
This was a crucial win for the Iron that keeps them firmly in the promotion play-off places and ends their recent mini slump of three league defeats and also they did in style completely controlling the game against fellow promotion chasers at Clarence Park on Saturday.
It was also no surprise that the main difference for the Iron's turn around was the return of striker Alfie Pavey after his three game suspension because he caused problems for the home defence all afternoon whilst crucially he scored the second goal seven minutes into the half that effectively ends the match as a contest.
The experience of Pavey has certainly been missed and his return certainly galvanised his team mates into all putting in a shift with far more commitment, aggression and simply playing a great passing game than Iron fans have seen recently.
It delighted manager Angelo Harrop who said: "We know we have missed him and it shows how important he is to the team but full credit to all the other players for responding in the way they did in this game.
"We know we shouldn't have lost those recent games and I had told the players in no uncertain terms not to waste all the hard work they've done this season," continued. "Our football was so much better, I believe we got the tactics right here because we knew it would be a hard game against a fellow chasing promotion side playing on their own ground.
"So I am doubly pleased how we've come back to win this really important game and also pleased at the way the players stuck to the game plan," he revealed. "We simply now have to keep repeating this impressive performance game by game until the end of the season and there's no reason why the players can't - it's all in the mind as they old saying goes."
Harrop is also hoping experienced skipper John White, who has missed recent games through injury, will be in the mix for Easter Monday's big home game against newly crowned league champions Ebbsfleet (kick off 3pm) with Harrop adding: "We have sorely missed him because of his leadership and experience and we're looking obviously for a home win front of a bumper Bank Holiday crowd.
"Ebbsfleet fully deserve the title because they have been outstanding all season and clearly are head and shoulders above every other team," he added. "We had a good game at their place earlier in the season and we were narrowly beaten so hopeful the players will be on form as in this match to get a result."
Against St Albans the Iron were always the better side and created far more chances and always looked more likely to score when pushing forward and should have come in at half time with more than a one goal lead.
The opening goal came on 36 minutes and remains a bone of contention as to who actually scored it - Baris Altintop or Kyron Clements - because from a long throw in from the left by Kyron Farrell the ball was headed goal wards on to the bar and down by Altintop but Clements followed to drive the ball into the net.
Later according to referee Ruebyn Ricardo the goal should be credited to Clements but no doubt the two Iron defenders will argue over it for some time.
There's was no doubting though who scored Iron's important second goal on 52 minutes when a looping ball forward on the edge of the home area from Aaron Blair was met by Pavey who rose above everyone to head the ball into the net much to the pleasure of the 100 or so Iron fans in the match day crowd of 1,905.
It was certainly not a case of the Iron holding on from then onwards either because they continued to push forward and in reality they should have added a couple of more goals before the final whistle.
At the other end the home side rarely threatened but when they did Iron keeper Jack Sims was more than competent to save what was necessary and keep his side with a clean sheet on the day.
"Great win, excellent performance from everyone, fantastic support from our fans but we forget about it now and concentrate on repeating this performance in our next game," added Harrop.