Post by dbbn on Apr 10, 2023 17:21:12 GMT
Jubilant Braintree players celebrate beating the Conf South champions - photo by Jon Weaver.
It was an Easter extravaganza and an edgy encounter this afternoon at the Dunmow Group Stadium as the League Champions came calling. With John White fit again he reclaimed the captaincy and Jack Turner started on the bench as the Iron started with five centre backs on the pitch. The early exchanges were good for the home side with Blair very busy and causing the Fleet backline some concern. An early Iron corner delivered deep by by Farrell was met by Pavey, but under pressure it wasn't a clean header and it dropped wide of the post. The visitors first attack was done with great speed as Sterling skimmed his man on the right touchline raced away and fired in a dangerous low cross but Poleon's first time effort as he came in from the left only found the side netting. Braintree back on the front foot and Altintop on an advanced position heads the ball into Blair's path, but on the stretch and under pressure he can't hit the target. Ebbsfleet counter again down the right with the electric pace of Sterling who delivers another inviting low cross, but this time Coulthirst can't reach it. Fourteen minutes in and the Iron take the lead, Ebbsfleet lose the ball in the middle of the park and Bradshaw sends Blair away down the right, he gets to the by-line and goes for the area looking to cross, the ball deflects off his marker and loops over the stranded Cousins in the Fleet goal and nestles in the back of the net. Braintree are happy to let the visitors have the ball in their own half as they play out from the back and keep it tight when they cross the halfway line, but they move the ball well and feed Domi for a 20 yard shot which Sims takes low down. Another move down their right and they get into the penalty area, players trying jink their way round the Iron defence and Coulthirst tries a near post effort but Altintop is there to block and concede a corner. Just short of the half hour and probably the turning point of the game, an overhit pass for Sterling sees the striker close down Altintop as he attempts to shield the ball out of play, the winger then shoves Altintop two handed in the back and into the hoardings, the Braintree man gets up and squares up to his assailant and melee of players come racing in. A red card is shown to Poleon although some fans on that side thought he'd got the wrong man, Fleet players continued to argue the point as it took ages for the striker to leave the pitch, Altintop sees yellow for his part in the fracas. That seemed to change the game in the visitors favour as Braintree were still content to sit back on their goal lead whilst Fleet knocked it around. Janneh creates an opportunity as he breaks into the box on the left and hits it across to Davies, but on the strtch he is unable to get any real power or direction on his effort. Three minutes before half time and the visitors patience pays off with a perfectly curled ball over the top is anticipated by Sterling and he races clear, Sims comes out but the winger spots support to his left and Coulthirst drives it home past two Braintree players. In three minutes of added time Braintree almost re-take the lead, a corner comes in and although initially cleared to the edge of the box Altintop guides a header into Pavey's path and his volley is superbly tipped up by Cousins and in the scramble to claim the dropping ball, the keeper goes down and wins a free kick.
There's an early chance in the second half as Braintree break with Blair on the right, he only has Pavey in support but finds him with a low cross, but the big man scuffs his shot for an easy save. Chapman breaks down the Fleet left and puts in another god cross, but again no one is following it up. Turner comes on for Janneh on 52 minutes as the ten men continue to dominate possession. Sims then makes a good save to deny Coulthirst his second, but minutes later the visitors are back in front. There's a massive opening on the left flank and Chapman races into it, takes the pass and drives it across the goal and into the net with Braintree appealing in vain for offside. Harrop reacts immediately withdrawing White and bringing on Rush.
Eight minutes after going behind and the Iron win a free kick wide out on the right 30 yards from goal, Farrell takes in and sends in a superbly flighted curling cross which Pavey guides into the far corner of the net. Davies who had gone down seconds earlier is then replaced by Reynolds. A Braintree corner again well delivered by Farrell sees Clements hit the deck, but the ref is not interested. Meanwhile a Fleet corner at the other end from Sterling curls in and hits the crossbar before being cleared to safety. Twelve minutes to go and another Iron corner invitinly bent in by Farrell teases Cousins to collect, but Clements is first to it and heads home from close range. Bradshaw almost costs his team mates with an under hit back pass to Sims with Sterling racing through, Sims slides and clears just ahead of the winger who follows through on the Iron stopper leaving him needing treatment. Five minutes of added time and Ebbsfleet are going a bit more direct and with a minute left a goal bound shot from the left just inside the area is palmed away by Sims to safety for the last chance of the game.
This was a great win for the Iron and even with ten men, the champions made it difficult for them, but bringing on Rush and trying to close down their opponents higher up the pitch was the right call after allowing the visitors to play the ball around at their own pace. There is now a 5 point cushion to the teams outside the play-off zone, but they play contenders Worthing and Eastbourne in their next two games so there's still no time to step off the gas.
