Post by dbbn on Aug 15, 2023 22:44:40 GMT
Braintree's first home defeat of the season came a lot earlier than last season as the Stones rolled into town and claimed all the points. After a dramatic last seconds win over Truro on Saturday the only change to the starting line-up was a recall for John White playing in an unaccustomed right back/wing back role with Nwachuku dropped to the bench. The visitors started the brighter with their left back capitalising on the skipper playing out of position. There was little controlled football and a lack of passing as both teams thumped the ball first time and treated it like a hot potato in a game of headers and volleys. Up front Will Davies and Blackwell were miles apart with the latter often being outmuscled by his marker. Iron had their first chance on 19 minutes when a Blackwell corner was met on the volley by White, but it was off target. The visitors replied with an effort from last season's Iron forward Lamar Reynolds, but it dips over the bar. Just short of the half hour and Maidstone grabbed the lead, attacking down their right with San Bone cutting inside and letting fly from 25 yards into the far corner of the goal giving Sims no chance, but perhaps he could've been closed down better. Little else happened and the Iron finish the half having not registering a shot on target.
Angelo Harrop made a change at half time with White withdrawn and Nwachuku on, Grimwood shuffled across to right back as the Iron went with three up front. An early corner from Blackwell is headed away, but Blackwell picks it up again and his second cross clears everyone and finds a diving Beadle beyond the back post powering in the equaliser. The game continues at a frenetic pace and the visitors are gifted a corner when Grimwood mis-controls his interception and the ball goes out for a corner. The initial corner kick is cleared and the ball is returned to the taker who's second effort picks out a visiting player who glance home from close range, but the Iron defence had pushed up and the linesman's flag was raised. Approaching the hour and Blackwell is sent in over the top from the halfway line, he dribbles towards the area surrounded by chasing defenders, stops and switches the ball to his right foot and curls his effort just over the bar. Beadle finds himself in an advanced right wing role and crossing deep finds Stevenson who heads over the bar. Maidstone are still having the better of the play and former Iron midfielder Sam Corne is unmarked just inside the left side of the box but Sims saves well low down. Braintree sub on 69 minutes sees Lambe withdrawn, again having showed some nice touches and Quantrell comes on. There was also an appearance of another Braintree player from last season when Levi Amantchi came on and showed some pace and willingness to close down, more than he did in his time with us! Within a minute the Stones regain the lead through that man Corne again unmarked on the left firing home low and hard inside the box. With a minute left Dawodu comes on to play right back and Alfie Payne is withdrawn. 5 minutes added time is shown which seemed a bit short and Clements is sent up front to supplement the attack. He gets in just outside the area for a one on one with the keeper, chips him, the ball rolls wide and the linesman flags for offside, he gets a yellow for his troubles. 2 minutes left and the Iron pass well down the right and Dawodu finds himself just inside the area on the right where he is clearly fouled and goes down, but Ms Byrne who has history with us again ignores the Iron fans' shouts.
On the night the better side won, they seemed a yard quick to everything. The Iron seemed to abandon their passing game and looked very much like a work in progress. Angelo hasn't got much wrong in his time hear, but the starting XI looked unbalanced with White out of position, hopefully Leon Davies will be restored to that role on Saturday.
Angelo Harrop made a change at half time with White withdrawn and Nwachuku on, Grimwood shuffled across to right back as the Iron went with three up front. An early corner from Blackwell is headed away, but Blackwell picks it up again and his second cross clears everyone and finds a diving Beadle beyond the back post powering in the equaliser. The game continues at a frenetic pace and the visitors are gifted a corner when Grimwood mis-controls his interception and the ball goes out for a corner. The initial corner kick is cleared and the ball is returned to the taker who's second effort picks out a visiting player who glance home from close range, but the Iron defence had pushed up and the linesman's flag was raised. Approaching the hour and Blackwell is sent in over the top from the halfway line, he dribbles towards the area surrounded by chasing defenders, stops and switches the ball to his right foot and curls his effort just over the bar. Beadle finds himself in an advanced right wing role and crossing deep finds Stevenson who heads over the bar. Maidstone are still having the better of the play and former Iron midfielder Sam Corne is unmarked just inside the left side of the box but Sims saves well low down. Braintree sub on 69 minutes sees Lambe withdrawn, again having showed some nice touches and Quantrell comes on. There was also an appearance of another Braintree player from last season when Levi Amantchi came on and showed some pace and willingness to close down, more than he did in his time with us! Within a minute the Stones regain the lead through that man Corne again unmarked on the left firing home low and hard inside the box. With a minute left Dawodu comes on to play right back and Alfie Payne is withdrawn. 5 minutes added time is shown which seemed a bit short and Clements is sent up front to supplement the attack. He gets in just outside the area for a one on one with the keeper, chips him, the ball rolls wide and the linesman flags for offside, he gets a yellow for his troubles. 2 minutes left and the Iron pass well down the right and Dawodu finds himself just inside the area on the right where he is clearly fouled and goes down, but Ms Byrne who has history with us again ignores the Iron fans' shouts.
On the night the better side won, they seemed a yard quick to everything. The Iron seemed to abandon their passing game and looked very much like a work in progress. Angelo hasn't got much wrong in his time hear, but the starting XI looked unbalanced with White out of position, hopefully Leon Davies will be restored to that role on Saturday.