FAC 3Q IRON 3-2 Brackley plus report.

[rjk]

A brilliant but unexpected comeback. Well done to the team and management.

[dbbn]

Braintree progressed in this season's F A Cup competition following a dramatic second half comeback as they overcame VNLN Brackley Town. With Grimwood serving a 1 game suspension following his ridiculous red card last week, John White returned to centre back with Ben Mason recalled at right back. Toby Stevenson reclaimed the left back role over Matt Carson whilst Will Davies came in for the on loan cup tied Nunn. The first half was a poor affair with lots of whistle blowing from a very fussy referee, whilst our visitors were playing a more direct style with lots of long throw ins, with Braintree struggling to play any sort of passing game. First chance came to the lively Blair who got in on the left and hit a shot towards goal that was deflected wide. There was a claim for a penalty following a left wing cross with Will Davies shirt being pulled as he tried to met the ball at the far post. Brackley's first effort on target came from a free kick from just outside the box and Sims gathered well low down. Just past the half hour and the Iron counter with Blackwell and Blair, the former squares to Blair who comes in from the right and shoots with the outside of his right boot towards the opposite corner, a deflection takes it just wide of the far post. Brackley come close following a clearance which drops outside the penalty area and the shot just catches the outside of the post. Minutes later and a good move down the visitors right sees the ball cut back just inside the box, but it's volleyed well over the bar. A poor first half rightly ends goal less.
An early Iron attack sees a shot blocked by a Brackley hand, but the ref ignores the shouts for a penalty. Twelve minutes into the half and the visitors take the lead as they break down the right and Dan Turner enters the box with Sims charging across to meet him, he rounds the keeper and fires into an unguarded net. Six minutes later it was two to the visitors as the Iron failed to clear, Tompkins header goes towards his own goal, the ball was loose and a Brackley player seemed to stab the ball goal wards hits the post but it runs straight to another forward who finished from close range. At this point I think most Iron fans thought that the game was over as they had created so little to worry their opponents. Angelo reacts immediately removing Leon Davies and bringing on new forward Marvin Herschel to bolster the attacking options. There was a let off for Braintree when Turner shoots over from close range. On seventy one Braintree get their first lifeline, breaking up a Brackley attack, the ball is played forward out to the left where Blackwell scurries away down the flank, gets into the box, his shot appears to be blocked by the arm of a diving defender, but the winger reacts to poke the ball home. Six minutes later and Braintree are level, again it's Blackwell nipping in ahead of his marker to pick up the ball just inside the oppositions half, he heads towards the by-line, looks up and puts in a near post cross which is met by Will Davies who glanced the ball into the far corner of the net. There's a couple of headers at the other end that Sims claims when it seemed easier to score. The game enters the ninetieth minute and Braintree have a throw in on the right level with the 18 yard box, Mason hurls it in, it's cleared and the ball makes it's way back to the full back, he crosses but it's headed out to the edge of the box, Blair had already started to retreat to collect the ball and hit a ferocious volley into the far corner of the net. Six minutes of added time are shown and Carson comes on for Blackwell as the Iron try to see the game out. Sims get hurt claiming a loose ball and there's a gathering of players and some pushing and shoving. The game goes into eleven added minutes, but the Iron see it out to pull off another remarkable turn around.