Post by dbbn on Sept 2, 2023 17:20:03 GMT
Table topping Worthing were blown away by a rampant Iron side this afternoon at the newly named Rare Breeds Meat Company Limited Stadium. Braintree were bolstered by three loan signings after Harry Beadles' loan ended last week. Matt Carson from Southampton came in at left back with Toby Stevenson fit to resume with a place on the bench. Ben Mason from AFC Wimbledon started on the bench, whilst the news all Iron fans had been waiting for - the return of Aaron Blair, saw last season's top scorer start up front in place of Matshazi. Luton loanee Ben Tompkins started at centre back with Joe Grimwood with Clements on the bench, Alfie Payne taking the captain's armband with a fit again John White on the bench.
For the second week running we had a visiting team who wanted to play football, playing out from the back. The opening exchanges saw the Iron the more on the front foot but no real chances were created. There was almost an embarrassing moment from Leon Davies as he chased to keep a ball in on the right not far from halfway, hitting it blindly back to Sims who was stationed on the left side of the box and had to scamper back to prevent an own goal with about a yard to spare. The opening goal came on 18 minutes after a foul on Alfie Payne about 20 yards into the opposition half, just left of centre. With a line of players encamped on the edge of the box, Blackwell curled an in-swinging ball in which Will Davies met, the keeper diving to to his right got a hand to it, but he was only able to push it up in the air and Grimwood following in had the simple job to guide it home into the net. Worthing keep to their possession game plan and started to come forward a bit more and Sims was tested as they broke through the middle of the park, working it into the left channel to Luque who strode into the box and fired low across goal only to see Sims make a fingertip save to divert the ball for a corner. Minutes after that the visitors were gaining the upper hand and a shot from 20 yards was aiming towards the bottom left corner but Sims was across again to save. The visitors next effort was an audacious attempt, awarded a free kick 10 yards in their own half, they went for goal but Sims was able to backtrack to take a comfortable catch a yard or so in front of goal. Having absorbed a bit of Worthing pressure, the Iron would double the lead on 37 minutes, having broken up a Worthing attack, the ball came out to Tompkins in the right back position, he looked up and played the perfectly weighted pass down the wing for Blair to sprint on to. The defender was almost stride for stride as they headed for the penalty area and just as the got to the edge of the box, it looked as though the chance had gone, but Blair somehow dispossessed his marker and shot as the advancing keeper came out to meet him, the ball hit the keeper but fell nicely back into the path of Blair to slot home into an empty net. As the half entered stoppage time and the Iron would take control of the game when Blackwell was sent away down the left wing, gets to the by-line, goes past his man and is tripped, the ref not hesitating to award the penalty. The winger dusted himself down and shot to the keeper's right and although he got a hand to it, it wasn't enough to stop it finding the back of the net.
Expecting some sort of backlash from Worthing in the second half, it was Braintree who missed two golden opportunities in the early minutes. a good passing move and Alfie Payne 10 yards outside the box on the left curls in a perfect cross to Quantrell at the back post, he tried to position the header when he perhaps should've powered it back across goal and the keeper was able to make the save. A minute after that and Braintree gain possession in their own half on the right and Will Davies sends Blair away, his marker can't stay with him and as he angles towards goal with the keeper closing down the angle he fires into the side netting. A minute after that and Blair is away again this time he tries to find Will Davies, but it's played just to hard for the sliding number 9 to get his boot to it. Eight minutes in and Worthing waste a golden opportunity to pull one back. A static back line allowed Pearce to latch onto a through ball with just Sims to beat, he opted for the near post and Sims stuck out a foot to block and as defenders and Pearce tried to claim the loose ball it span up for Sims to gather. Aguiar again tried his luck from outside the box, but it was always rising. Despite time ebbing away, Worthing are still content to play from the back without really cutting through the Braintree rear-guard and a poor pass in the middle of the pitch is picked off by Blair who carries it centrally before rolling it into Will Davies path, but the strikers first time effort from 18 yards lacks any real power to trouble the keeper. On 68 minutes and another counter and Blair is away again running defenders ragged, he's in on goal on the right of the box and powers a rising shot that cannons off the cross bar and down before being cleared off the line. Braintree's first sub sees Quantrell withdrawn and Ben Mason come on to slot in at right back. On 73 minutes and again it's Blair down the right he gets to the by-line comes back inside beats his man and shoots left footed, Will Davis makes a connection with it and it finds the back of the net. Minutes later and this time Blair is free on the left comes in towards the area and shoots from 20 yards only to see the keeper tip it over the bar. In a rare Worthing foray, Pearce gets another chance on the left, but he can only find the side netting. Ten minutes left and Carson who's down well makes way for Stevenson. From a Braintree corner the ball is not quite cleared and it lands at the feet of Grimwood, but he scuffs it. Pearce tries his luck again this trying to chip Sims but it's an easy take for the stopper. Braintree are playing with a swagger and Lambe goes for the spectacular volleying a long range dipping volley from 25 yards high and wide. The third sun sees Will Davies withdrawn replaced by Matshazi. Stevenson makes an interception on the halfway line and strides forward before unleashing a dipping shot that hits the top of the bar.
A resounding win against the League leaders bodes well as the Iron head to Tonbridge Angels on Tuesday evening, with the squad bolstered by some good additions who all coped admirably today. Worthing today were Rebels without a cause!
For the second week running we had a visiting team who wanted to play football, playing out from the back. The opening exchanges saw the Iron the more on the front foot but no real chances were created. There was almost an embarrassing moment from Leon Davies as he chased to keep a ball in on the right not far from halfway, hitting it blindly back to Sims who was stationed on the left side of the box and had to scamper back to prevent an own goal with about a yard to spare. The opening goal came on 18 minutes after a foul on Alfie Payne about 20 yards into the opposition half, just left of centre. With a line of players encamped on the edge of the box, Blackwell curled an in-swinging ball in which Will Davies met, the keeper diving to to his right got a hand to it, but he was only able to push it up in the air and Grimwood following in had the simple job to guide it home into the net. Worthing keep to their possession game plan and started to come forward a bit more and Sims was tested as they broke through the middle of the park, working it into the left channel to Luque who strode into the box and fired low across goal only to see Sims make a fingertip save to divert the ball for a corner. Minutes after that the visitors were gaining the upper hand and a shot from 20 yards was aiming towards the bottom left corner but Sims was across again to save. The visitors next effort was an audacious attempt, awarded a free kick 10 yards in their own half, they went for goal but Sims was able to backtrack to take a comfortable catch a yard or so in front of goal. Having absorbed a bit of Worthing pressure, the Iron would double the lead on 37 minutes, having broken up a Worthing attack, the ball came out to Tompkins in the right back position, he looked up and played the perfectly weighted pass down the wing for Blair to sprint on to. The defender was almost stride for stride as they headed for the penalty area and just as the got to the edge of the box, it looked as though the chance had gone, but Blair somehow dispossessed his marker and shot as the advancing keeper came out to meet him, the ball hit the keeper but fell nicely back into the path of Blair to slot home into an empty net. As the half entered stoppage time and the Iron would take control of the game when Blackwell was sent away down the left wing, gets to the by-line, goes past his man and is tripped, the ref not hesitating to award the penalty. The winger dusted himself down and shot to the keeper's right and although he got a hand to it, it wasn't enough to stop it finding the back of the net.
Expecting some sort of backlash from Worthing in the second half, it was Braintree who missed two golden opportunities in the early minutes. a good passing move and Alfie Payne 10 yards outside the box on the left curls in a perfect cross to Quantrell at the back post, he tried to position the header when he perhaps should've powered it back across goal and the keeper was able to make the save. A minute after that and Braintree gain possession in their own half on the right and Will Davies sends Blair away, his marker can't stay with him and as he angles towards goal with the keeper closing down the angle he fires into the side netting. A minute after that and Blair is away again this time he tries to find Will Davies, but it's played just to hard for the sliding number 9 to get his boot to it. Eight minutes in and Worthing waste a golden opportunity to pull one back. A static back line allowed Pearce to latch onto a through ball with just Sims to beat, he opted for the near post and Sims stuck out a foot to block and as defenders and Pearce tried to claim the loose ball it span up for Sims to gather. Aguiar again tried his luck from outside the box, but it was always rising. Despite time ebbing away, Worthing are still content to play from the back without really cutting through the Braintree rear-guard and a poor pass in the middle of the pitch is picked off by Blair who carries it centrally before rolling it into Will Davies path, but the strikers first time effort from 18 yards lacks any real power to trouble the keeper. On 68 minutes and another counter and Blair is away again running defenders ragged, he's in on goal on the right of the box and powers a rising shot that cannons off the cross bar and down before being cleared off the line. Braintree's first sub sees Quantrell withdrawn and Ben Mason come on to slot in at right back. On 73 minutes and again it's Blair down the right he gets to the by-line comes back inside beats his man and shoots left footed, Will Davis makes a connection with it and it finds the back of the net. Minutes later and this time Blair is free on the left comes in towards the area and shoots from 20 yards only to see the keeper tip it over the bar. In a rare Worthing foray, Pearce gets another chance on the left, but he can only find the side netting. Ten minutes left and Carson who's down well makes way for Stevenson. From a Braintree corner the ball is not quite cleared and it lands at the feet of Grimwood, but he scuffs it. Pearce tries his luck again this trying to chip Sims but it's an easy take for the stopper. Braintree are playing with a swagger and Lambe goes for the spectacular volleying a long range dipping volley from 25 yards high and wide. The third sun sees Will Davies withdrawn replaced by Matshazi. Stevenson makes an interception on the halfway line and strides forward before unleashing a dipping shot that hits the top of the bar.
A resounding win against the League leaders bodes well as the Iron head to Tonbridge Angels on Tuesday evening, with the squad bolstered by some good additions who all coped admirably today. Worthing today were Rebels without a cause!
