Post by admin on Sept 5, 2023 23:40:09 GMT
Tonbridge Angels 0 Braintree Town 0
by David Ward
The Iron returned from the Longmead Stadium on Tuesday evening with a point in what was a hard fought game where in effect both defences cancelled each other out but manager Angelo Harrop was still left frustrated they didn't get one goal to take all three points.
"Overall I'm pleased with the point but it was frustrating because we had come good build up play but just couldn't execute the finishing," he said. "We had chances and I felt always look the more likely side to score but in fairness they had set themselves up more defensively to try and stop our two strikers Will Davies and Aaron Blair from using their pace.
"They are a good side but I was pleased with the way we continually kept trying to penetrate their defence but I think on reflection a draw was perhaps a fair result," he continued. "It was also obvious that some of the players looked tired too because I think Saturday's game took a lot out of them but full marks to everyone who all kept up their workrate."
The Iron were without right-back Reggie Lambe who has been called up to play for Bermuda and Harrop said: "Yes, we missed him because he has been playing exceptionally well for us but we're pleased for him to gain an international call up."
With Lambe missing it meant a first start for young Ben Mason, on loan from Wimbledon, with another youngster Matt Carson at left-back and Harrop was full of praise for the duo adding: "I think they have come into the side without any real training with the team and both put in tremendous performances.
"I think the whole back line were outstanding in this game and they managed to keep the home forwards at bay and that was the reason we kept a clean sheet on the evening," he added. "I felt we played really well all evening with lots of possession but it was that lack of final penetration that let us down.
"It just shows how far we have come and I think we're on the right path and will only improve the more games the players play together and gain better understanding," he said. "Again the Iron fans in the 850 crowd were outstanding giving the players tremendous support away from home."
The Iron certainly had the better chances to score but it's clear that playing on an artificial surface is not what most of the players like because unlike on grass the ball simply doesn't run true and bounces all over the place.
Time and time again in this game Iron players were obviously caught out by the bounce of the ball when they tried to control and pass it but it's now part of the scene at National League level but naturally not at Football League level.
The Iron did create several chances to break the deadlock but they were foiled by deep defending by the home side who would learn from Worthing's mistake against the Iron on Saturday.
With keeper Jack Sims back on form and again pulling off three smart saves to deny the home forwards the Iron looked really strong at the back while up front both Blair and Davies were well shackled by the home rearguard but both missed chances to have scored.
"It was disappointing not to have won but to come away from a tough game with a point is still good," Harrop said: "We now work hard and prepare ourselves for what is another really hard game at home to Farnborough on Saturday."
That game kicks off at 3pm.
by David Ward
The Iron returned from the Longmead Stadium on Tuesday evening with a point in what was a hard fought game where in effect both defences cancelled each other out but manager Angelo Harrop was still left frustrated they didn't get one goal to take all three points.
"Overall I'm pleased with the point but it was frustrating because we had come good build up play but just couldn't execute the finishing," he said. "We had chances and I felt always look the more likely side to score but in fairness they had set themselves up more defensively to try and stop our two strikers Will Davies and Aaron Blair from using their pace.
"They are a good side but I was pleased with the way we continually kept trying to penetrate their defence but I think on reflection a draw was perhaps a fair result," he continued. "It was also obvious that some of the players looked tired too because I think Saturday's game took a lot out of them but full marks to everyone who all kept up their workrate."
The Iron were without right-back Reggie Lambe who has been called up to play for Bermuda and Harrop said: "Yes, we missed him because he has been playing exceptionally well for us but we're pleased for him to gain an international call up."
With Lambe missing it meant a first start for young Ben Mason, on loan from Wimbledon, with another youngster Matt Carson at left-back and Harrop was full of praise for the duo adding: "I think they have come into the side without any real training with the team and both put in tremendous performances.
"I think the whole back line were outstanding in this game and they managed to keep the home forwards at bay and that was the reason we kept a clean sheet on the evening," he added. "I felt we played really well all evening with lots of possession but it was that lack of final penetration that let us down.
"It just shows how far we have come and I think we're on the right path and will only improve the more games the players play together and gain better understanding," he said. "Again the Iron fans in the 850 crowd were outstanding giving the players tremendous support away from home."
The Iron certainly had the better chances to score but it's clear that playing on an artificial surface is not what most of the players like because unlike on grass the ball simply doesn't run true and bounces all over the place.
Time and time again in this game Iron players were obviously caught out by the bounce of the ball when they tried to control and pass it but it's now part of the scene at National League level but naturally not at Football League level.
The Iron did create several chances to break the deadlock but they were foiled by deep defending by the home side who would learn from Worthing's mistake against the Iron on Saturday.
With keeper Jack Sims back on form and again pulling off three smart saves to deny the home forwards the Iron looked really strong at the back while up front both Blair and Davies were well shackled by the home rearguard but both missed chances to have scored.
"It was disappointing not to have won but to come away from a tough game with a point is still good," Harrop said: "We now work hard and prepare ourselves for what is another really hard game at home to Farnborough on Saturday."
That game kicks off at 3pm.