Post by dbbn on Nov 4, 2023 18:32:23 GMT
Braintree well and truly clipped the wings of the Hawks today as the relegation threatened side were blown away in the second half. The only change to last Saturday's starting XI saw Tom Blackwell come in for Ben Watt who had to make way with 6 loanees currently in the squad. Despite their lowly status Havant came to play football, getting the ball down and quick crisp short passing, which I always feels suits us better than the more direct teams. There was an early yellow card for Ben Mason as he took out Roberts as he tried to get away on the left wing. First effort on target came from Havant with Grimwood blocking a goal bound shot from inside the box. Braintree's first corner brought the first half chance as Lambe swung it over, Tompkins met it but got underneath the ball and headed over the bar. Braintree too are passing well and getting it out wide with Blackwell and Blair often swapping flanks, but all to often their choice of cross or taking their man on didn't produce any chances. The best pass and move of the game on nineteen minutes saw the Hawks come out of their half in numbers and pace, lots of one touch passing and suddenly Berkeley-Agyepong is bearing down on goal inside the area, he goes for placement and Reyes sticks out his left boot and it goes for a corner. Three minutes later and the Iron were in front, a cross from halfway inside the Havant half on the left saw a coming together as Mason endeavoured to get to the ball, he somehow maintains his balance and nicks the ball to get in the box and get his shot off which the keeper got down to and pushed away, but Mason kept going and picked up the parry hitting a cross that found Will Davies unmarked 12 yards out, he swivelled and hit a left foot half volley into the net. It should have been two seven minutes later when good work down the left saw Coulthirst put in he got to the by-line past his marker and played it back perfectly for Aaron Blair who hit a low drive wide of the far upright. Braintree are very much in control and Blackwell and Blair are timing runs that continually beat the offside trap, but again lack the end product. Blair gets the ball in the net, Lambe curls in a great ball from the right which Blair controls well and rounds the keeper, but this time he'd gone too early. The half ends 1-0, but Havant had shown some threat, so a second is needed.
The second almost came within a minute of the restart, Ben Mason who has been on long throw-in duty hurls in another one to the near post, Tompkins makes a good connection to steer it across the 6 yard box and Blackwell is inches away from applying the finish. Minutes later and a Braintree corner should have produced the second, the ball drops to Tompkins who hits a hard shot which is cleared off the line, it falls to Will Davis and he blazes over from 8 yards. Havant have adapted their style and are not getting the ball forward quicker without offering much threat with Braintree dangerous on the counter. On the hour and the lead was doubled as Havant lose possession Braintree, Lambe who is having a storming game plays it long to Will Davies and his flick on down the centre sees Coulthirst beat the offside trap and coolly lob the advancing Havant keeper from 20 yards. Just past the hour and Blackwell is withdrawn for Crichlow. A dangerous attack for the visitors sees Reyes bravely come to punch and collides with his opponent winning a free kick. Braintree continue to look dangerous on the counter and Crichlow is sent away down the left. he looks up and lays it back to the onrushing Alfie Payne try a first time effort from just outside the box which goes over the bar. Havant's best chance came two minutes later and it fell to top scorer Faal, a cross from the right and from 6 yards out Faal meets it, but an instinctive swipe from Reyes prevents it from going in.
That chance was then followed by Spence finding space after Grimwood had got caught in possession but he went for power from the edge of the area and over the bar. On seventy four minutes, new loan signing Matt Ward from Ipswich Town comes on for Coulthirst and within a minute of entering play, Ben Tompkins who is also having a stormer plays a great long pass down the right, Ward latches onto it, looks up and delivers a perfect cross for an unmarked Blair at the back stick to nod in from close range. Then on eighty minutes an unbelievable bit of individual brilliance from our Bermudan international Reggie Lambe, picking the ball up centrally just inside the Havant half he goes on a may dribble beating man after man, into the box the keeper forces him wide as he goes round him but he calmly slots it home from a tight angle. Two minutes later and Havant have a consolation goal when Busari scores from close range after Reyes had saved an initial shot. John White comes on for Mason with time running out. Havant have a shot from outside the box which goes just wide. From another Lambe corner Tompkins again meets it, lots of power but again just too high. In the last minute of added time Reyes is at full stretch to turn away a powerful shot from outside the area.
A great result against a team we've always struggled to beat, but Braintree were clinical today where they've been goal shy in recent weeks. Another chance to climb the table on Tuesday wen St Albans come calling.
The second almost came within a minute of the restart, Ben Mason who has been on long throw-in duty hurls in another one to the near post, Tompkins makes a good connection to steer it across the 6 yard box and Blackwell is inches away from applying the finish. Minutes later and a Braintree corner should have produced the second, the ball drops to Tompkins who hits a hard shot which is cleared off the line, it falls to Will Davis and he blazes over from 8 yards. Havant have adapted their style and are not getting the ball forward quicker without offering much threat with Braintree dangerous on the counter. On the hour and the lead was doubled as Havant lose possession Braintree, Lambe who is having a storming game plays it long to Will Davies and his flick on down the centre sees Coulthirst beat the offside trap and coolly lob the advancing Havant keeper from 20 yards. Just past the hour and Blackwell is withdrawn for Crichlow. A dangerous attack for the visitors sees Reyes bravely come to punch and collides with his opponent winning a free kick. Braintree continue to look dangerous on the counter and Crichlow is sent away down the left. he looks up and lays it back to the onrushing Alfie Payne try a first time effort from just outside the box which goes over the bar. Havant's best chance came two minutes later and it fell to top scorer Faal, a cross from the right and from 6 yards out Faal meets it, but an instinctive swipe from Reyes prevents it from going in.
That chance was then followed by Spence finding space after Grimwood had got caught in possession but he went for power from the edge of the area and over the bar. On seventy four minutes, new loan signing Matt Ward from Ipswich Town comes on for Coulthirst and within a minute of entering play, Ben Tompkins who is also having a stormer plays a great long pass down the right, Ward latches onto it, looks up and delivers a perfect cross for an unmarked Blair at the back stick to nod in from close range. Then on eighty minutes an unbelievable bit of individual brilliance from our Bermudan international Reggie Lambe, picking the ball up centrally just inside the Havant half he goes on a may dribble beating man after man, into the box the keeper forces him wide as he goes round him but he calmly slots it home from a tight angle. Two minutes later and Havant have a consolation goal when Busari scores from close range after Reyes had saved an initial shot. John White comes on for Mason with time running out. Havant have a shot from outside the box which goes just wide. From another Lambe corner Tompkins again meets it, lots of power but again just too high. In the last minute of added time Reyes is at full stretch to turn away a powerful shot from outside the area.
A great result against a team we've always struggled to beat, but Braintree were clinical today where they've been goal shy in recent weeks. Another chance to climb the table on Tuesday wen St Albans come calling.