Post by dbbn on Apr 20, 2024 17:28:41 GMT
The last home game of the season brought a lot of incident but not three points as a rejuvenated Eastbourne side completed the double over the Iron this afternoon. The starting XI saw Sears start in place of the recalled Shaq Coulthirst, Miccio in for Leon Davies and Jayden Davis in for Alfie Payne, there was also a space on the bench for young Jack Roberts who had been recalled from his loan with Cheshunt. The visitors were quick out of the traps and top scorer Bamba the danger on the left flank driving at Altintop crossing low across the box, but Grimwood clears. Next attack and they have a pop from outside the box across the area and Sims gets down to push it away. Braintree's first effort on goal came from a free kick, Blackwell feeds it in from the right from about 30 yards out, it's headed clear to the waiting Davis 20 yards out but he lacks composure and blazes it well over the bar. Next to try his look with a long ranger is Sears from the angle of the area, but it's straight at the keeper. The Iron are beginning to penetrate more without really getting into the box and Miccio winning the ball near the halfway line, feeds it into Blair who tries a long range curler from left to right, but again it's off target. Then on 18 minutes there's a gift to open the scoring as the keeper passes it straight to Sears 25 yards out, he advances a couple of paces with just the keeper to beat and opts to try and lob him but just dollies it into the grateful keepers arms. The former 'Ammer wouldn't have to wait long for redemption though as a minute later he gets on the end of the best passing move of the half so far, with Davis beating his man on the wing, driving to the by-line, coming inside and laying it off to Sears who sweeps in a first time left foot shot across goal and into the far corner. That goal seems to have settled the team down and they have Borough penned in their own half without really opening them up. Borough are almost gifted an equaliser as Rendell under not too much pressure overhits his pass back to Sims who is grateful to see it go wide of the post. The resulting corner is whipped in wickedly under Sims bar, but he manages to tip it over. An Iron counter sees Wakefield played in just left of centre as he drives into the box his touch allows the keeper and defender to come out and claim and although they get in each others way and it's spilled, Wakefield has ran too far past them and the keeper grabs the loose ball. The visitors would then strike on 41 minutes, another vicious corner although initially scrambled away, drops to Bamber on the edge of the box, Grimwood looks as though he's going to close him down, but stops giving the striker time to control the ball and power it home.
Eastbourne again start the half on the front foot and an early shot from the edge of the box is saved comfortably saved by Sims. Five minutes into the half and the Sports early endeavours are rewarded as Bendle finishes off a cross which appeared to go under Sims. Payne then comes on for Davis which seemed strange as the winger had the regular beating of his marker. Just past the hours and Wakefield pounces on some poor passing but shoots across goal and wide. Sears has another shot from outside the box and although he has time, he hits it over the bar, shortly after that he is replaced by Roberts. The young sub puts in a good cross after recycling a clearance from a corner, Grimwood strains and gets his head to it and it loops goal wards only for the keeper to tip it over. From the resulting corner it's Grimwood again and his header is cleared off the line and there's claims of handball. Reggie Lambe then comes on for Blackwell. With 8 minutes left, scorer Bamba who was booked in the first half stupidly boots the ball away after a free kick has been given and gets a second yellow. Braintree re-arrange with three at the back and Grimwood up front. The center back is winning lots of ball and on 90 minutes Miccio picks him out with a peach of a cross from deep on the left and the centre back guides his header into the top corner. Joy is short lived as Borough go straight down the other end, send in a cross and Uche powers it home giving Sims no chance. Eight minutes added time s shown and Braintree go route one to Grimwood and he has a couple of shots close in surrounded by Sports defenders and the keeper is able to gather the loose ball. Then on 95 minutes there's a second red for goodness knows what for Sports' Barry who takes an eternity to get off the pitch, but even with two men off, they keep the ball out of the net.
So it's a fifth place finish as all our rivals for 2nd-5th won which means Bath City at home on Tuesday, much improvement is required to progress to the semi-finals.
Eastbourne again start the half on the front foot and an early shot from the edge of the box is saved comfortably saved by Sims. Five minutes into the half and the Sports early endeavours are rewarded as Bendle finishes off a cross which appeared to go under Sims. Payne then comes on for Davis which seemed strange as the winger had the regular beating of his marker. Just past the hours and Wakefield pounces on some poor passing but shoots across goal and wide. Sears has another shot from outside the box and although he has time, he hits it over the bar, shortly after that he is replaced by Roberts. The young sub puts in a good cross after recycling a clearance from a corner, Grimwood strains and gets his head to it and it loops goal wards only for the keeper to tip it over. From the resulting corner it's Grimwood again and his header is cleared off the line and there's claims of handball. Reggie Lambe then comes on for Blackwell. With 8 minutes left, scorer Bamba who was booked in the first half stupidly boots the ball away after a free kick has been given and gets a second yellow. Braintree re-arrange with three at the back and Grimwood up front. The center back is winning lots of ball and on 90 minutes Miccio picks him out with a peach of a cross from deep on the left and the centre back guides his header into the top corner. Joy is short lived as Borough go straight down the other end, send in a cross and Uche powers it home giving Sims no chance. Eight minutes added time s shown and Braintree go route one to Grimwood and he has a couple of shots close in surrounded by Sports defenders and the keeper is able to gather the loose ball. Then on 95 minutes there's a second red for goodness knows what for Sports' Barry who takes an eternity to get off the pitch, but even with two men off, they keep the ball out of the net.
So it's a fifth place finish as all our rivals for 2nd-5th won which means Bath City at home on Tuesday, much improvement is required to progress to the semi-finals.