FA Cup 1QR Replay IRON 3-1 Canvey AET

[admin]

Iron were late to the party after bringing the game back from 0-1 in the 98th minute before hitting two goals in the second period of extra time.

We now entertain Bracknell Town at Cressing Road next round.

[rjk]

Good game and well done. Onward and upward!!

[dbbn]

Braintree overcame a vibrant Canvey Island team last night in the replay of this F A Cup tie and secured themselves a home tie with Brackley Town for the second season running. There were a few changes to the side that had started the tie last Saturday, in came Leon Davies, the returning Bermudan international - Reggie Lambe and Dan Sparkes for Ben Mason, Kyran Clements and Ben Watt. The game was played at a high tempo and was very open throughout. Canvey were moving the ball slickly around the pitch and making in roads with good passing and movement and almost grabbed the opening goal on five minutes when a ball in from their left found it's way to the back post and from close range the attempted volley was superbly blocked by Sims. The game continued to flow from end to end and Braintree's first effort on target cam from left back Matt Carson expertly picked out by a long curling pass from right to left from Sparkes and the marauding full back's low drive was repelled at the near post. Sparkes then has a chance himself as Blackwell puts a ball in from the left but he cannot make a proper connection. The lively Kouassi is causing problems every time Canvey come forward and Iron defenders have to double up on him. On the counter another good ball down the right touch line sees Blair free to run at his marker, outpace him, cut in towards goal ad shoot across goal, but again the attempt is saved. Then the best chance of the evening falls to Blackwell after some very neat one touch down the right sets up the wide man 8 yards out in front of goal but he scoops it over the bar. Lambe tries his luck picking up a clearance from outside the box, but blazes it well over the bar, whilst Sims has to tip another Canvey effort over his crossbar. Canvey then have a free kick centrally and from the clearance Braintree break quickly and it's Carson again on the left who gets on the end of the final pass and has two shots in quick succession stopped by the keeper. Lambe tries his lucjk again from outsidre the box after a pass in from the left, this one's a bit lower than the last, but still goes over. The opening goal arrives in stoppage time, Braintree lose possession in midfield, Canvey shift it out quickly to Kouassi who races from the right on the angle and fires the ball into the opposite corner of the net.
The second half sees no let up in the pace of the game and Blackwell cutting in off the left tries a long ranger which is well over the bar. Minutes in and Sparkes is withdrawn and Ben Mason comes on, Leon Davies moves back into midfield to accommodate him. The sub has an early impact coming down the right wing his cross eventually makes it's way to Blair 10 yards out at the far post but he side foots it into the side netting. Blackwell then ahs another chance which this time the keeper has to save with his legs. Past the hour mark and Braintree still seek the equaliser whilst Canvey still look to get forward at every opportunity. The leveller almost comes from a corner, Grimwood's header is glanced goal wards but hits the bar and is scrambled away.
Second sub sees Quantrell replaced by Matshazi. Braintree for all their efforts are finding it hard to make clear cut chances against a resolute Canvey rearguard and a small Iron front line,so Blair tries another shot from outside the box which is on target but comfortable for the keeper. On the counter it's almost game over as Sims comes to the rescue with a fine one handed save and the ball is hacked clear. With just over 10 minutes left and Clements comes on to play up front with Leon Davies withdrawn. Canvey have another chance from a cross which is headed just over the bar. Mason takes a long throw in on the right Clements battles for it, it comes to Blackwell who shoots just wide. On the counter and another great chance for the visitors to seal the tie but Sims again denies them.Into 8 minutes of added time and again Canvey have anther guilt edged chance to see them through and yet again Sims is the barrier in another on v one. Matshazi has a chance picking up the pieces on the edge of the box, but his well struck effort fizzes wide of the post. With the last attack of the game Braintree who now have a target man finally get the ball in on to Clements head at the far post it doesn't look like it's quite over the line and Blackwell taps it in in front of an ecstatic home support, there's only enough time left to take the kick off before the ref blows for extra time.
Understandably the pace appears to drop and Clements reverts to a centre back role. Stevenson comes on at left back for the tireless Carson. The first period of extra time yields little in the way of clear chances. The second period and the best chance comes to Matshazi, played in on the left just inside the box, his first effort is saved the ball comes back to him at a tight angle and the keeper denies him again. Six minutes let and Matshazi does some good work cutting in off the right he finds Blair to his left and this time his shot is out of reach of the keeper. A minute later and Canvey lose possession in the middle of the pitch and it becomes a foot race between Blair and his marker, the Daggers man nods it on, outpaces his man and blasts one from outside the box which gave the keeper no chance.
An enthralling cup tie in which the visitors played no small part finally comes to an end.

[bobrob]

I thought we should have been two or three nil up by the time Canvey scored, woeful finishing the culprit. The referee was good to give us 8 minutes added on time, I know Canvey were time wasting but what team wouldn't be. But I think most referees at this level would not have done that, but he dream continues. COYI.