Post by dbbn on Oct 7, 2023 17:50:41 GMT
Braintree went toe to toe with second placed Bath City at the Rare Breed Meat Stadium on a very warm October afternoon. Changes to last weeks starting line up saw an enforced change with Jack Sims injured, there was a debut for Joshua Blunkell who had been on dual registration with Kettering. Grimwood resumed his pairing with Tompkins at centre back after completing his one match suspension with Mason starting on the bench and Ben Watt coming into midfield, there was also a place on the bench for the returning Gianni Crichlow.
The Iron started quite brightly looking to keep the ball down and keep possession. Blair making his debut as a full time Braintree player is sent away down the right early on but his cross was mishit but caused the keeper to scramble as it just cleared the bar. Lambe is the next to have a go after some good work on the right, the ball is played inside to the Bermudan international who drifted towards the box and tried a left footed curler from 18 yards but it went wide. Will Davies is the next to try is luck in the opening ten minutes having received the ball in the left channel, the space in front opened up for him and he shot from 25 yards, but it lacked any power and was easily gathered. Ben Watt causes panic in the Bath area when his long throw is completely missed by the keeper, but it's hacked away before a Braintree player can apply the finishing touch. Bath's first attack of note came sixteen minutes in and a good cross from the right sees Smith direct his header wide from a central position. Ten minutes later and Payne was subbed having been booked minutes earlier with no sign of an injury. Just short of the half hour and Braintree lost the ball just inside the Bath half and with players committed, they break down the right and a good cross finds Hayfield just inside the box who loops header which seems to be floating past Blunkell, but he makes an excellent fingertip save to concede the corner. A chance at either end follows with Bath top scorer Wilson firing wide inside the box and Leon Davies picks up a headed clearance outside the City area but his rushed effort is off target and wide. The half finishes goal less with Braintree the better side,
There's a great chance for Blair three minutes in when brings down a lofted through ball just inside the box but instead of lobbing the advancing keeper he brings the ball down and runs into 2 defenders and the chance is gone. Bath then up the tempo and are moving the ball well and Blunkell has to rush out and punch an effort clear as they cut in from the left and Tompkins blocks the follow up shot. It took up to the sixty second minute for the visitors to open the scoring that their second half play had threatened. Top scorer Wilson allowed too much space on the right of the box to fire home. Braintree's response comes from another Watt long throw in which eventually drops at the far post but no ne is near enough to finish. Watt's throw ins are the only creative thing the Iron can manage and the next one drops outside the box where Lambe attempts a volley but fires over. Despite being behind, there's no hurry to get the ball forward ahis allows Bath to be set defensively to keep the home side bay. On seventy minutes the disappointing Blackwell is withdrawn and Crichlow comes on. Bath have another attempt from outside the box which is blazed over before Braintree make their third change, Quantrell on for Leon Davies. Seven minutes left and Crichlow comes off the right flank and plays a lovely lofted ball which Will Davies appears to control with his arm and as the ball drops and he looks to strike on goal a last ditch tackle blocks the goal bound shot. Watt tries his luck from 20 yards, but again it's over the bar. Into five minutes added time and still Braintree are sticking to their passing game, but with a minute to go, it's another Watt long throw that this time proves decisive, not cleared by the defence it eventually falls to Blair who had found space in a crowded area and he smashes the ball home.
A sixth draw of the season and another opportunity to climb the table has gone.
Next week we're back in F A Cup action and a chance to reach the first round proper.
The Iron started quite brightly looking to keep the ball down and keep possession. Blair making his debut as a full time Braintree player is sent away down the right early on but his cross was mishit but caused the keeper to scramble as it just cleared the bar. Lambe is the next to have a go after some good work on the right, the ball is played inside to the Bermudan international who drifted towards the box and tried a left footed curler from 18 yards but it went wide. Will Davies is the next to try is luck in the opening ten minutes having received the ball in the left channel, the space in front opened up for him and he shot from 25 yards, but it lacked any power and was easily gathered. Ben Watt causes panic in the Bath area when his long throw is completely missed by the keeper, but it's hacked away before a Braintree player can apply the finishing touch. Bath's first attack of note came sixteen minutes in and a good cross from the right sees Smith direct his header wide from a central position. Ten minutes later and Payne was subbed having been booked minutes earlier with no sign of an injury. Just short of the half hour and Braintree lost the ball just inside the Bath half and with players committed, they break down the right and a good cross finds Hayfield just inside the box who loops header which seems to be floating past Blunkell, but he makes an excellent fingertip save to concede the corner. A chance at either end follows with Bath top scorer Wilson firing wide inside the box and Leon Davies picks up a headed clearance outside the City area but his rushed effort is off target and wide. The half finishes goal less with Braintree the better side,
There's a great chance for Blair three minutes in when brings down a lofted through ball just inside the box but instead of lobbing the advancing keeper he brings the ball down and runs into 2 defenders and the chance is gone. Bath then up the tempo and are moving the ball well and Blunkell has to rush out and punch an effort clear as they cut in from the left and Tompkins blocks the follow up shot. It took up to the sixty second minute for the visitors to open the scoring that their second half play had threatened. Top scorer Wilson allowed too much space on the right of the box to fire home. Braintree's response comes from another Watt long throw in which eventually drops at the far post but no ne is near enough to finish. Watt's throw ins are the only creative thing the Iron can manage and the next one drops outside the box where Lambe attempts a volley but fires over. Despite being behind, there's no hurry to get the ball forward ahis allows Bath to be set defensively to keep the home side bay. On seventy minutes the disappointing Blackwell is withdrawn and Crichlow comes on. Bath have another attempt from outside the box which is blazed over before Braintree make their third change, Quantrell on for Leon Davies. Seven minutes left and Crichlow comes off the right flank and plays a lovely lofted ball which Will Davies appears to control with his arm and as the ball drops and he looks to strike on goal a last ditch tackle blocks the goal bound shot. Watt tries his luck from 20 yards, but again it's over the bar. Into five minutes added time and still Braintree are sticking to their passing game, but with a minute to go, it's another Watt long throw that this time proves decisive, not cleared by the defence it eventually falls to Blair who had found space in a crowded area and he smashes the ball home.
A sixth draw of the season and another opportunity to climb the table has gone.
Next week we're back in F A Cup action and a chance to reach the first round proper.