A single goal was all that could separate the two sides at
the Kingfield stadium in a tough battle on a difficult surface for the Iron.
Joe McNerney struck for the Cards in the second half, connecting with a vacant
ball that the Irons failed to clear from a Woking corner. McNerney took full
advantage of a scrappy spell in the game, tapping from just yards out which
would be enough for the home side to take all three points.
Some recent poor weather had taken its toll on the surface
in Surrey, with sand and mud covering the pitch almost as much as the soggy
grass in patches. The away dugout had also been a victim of the elements, reportedly
ripped apart by the wind leaving Devonshire and his bench out in the cold for
this one.
Nic Hamann was called into action early on as Josh Payne
picked up a loose ball just outside the Braintree box. Striking hard and low,
the best was demanded from an outstretched keeper who did well to prevent an
early lead for Woking. The Iron’s first attack led to a corner, which could be
cleared only as far as Chez Isaac. His attempt soared well over the bar into the
one towering stand at the Kingfield stadium, which was doing a job of blocking
the blinding midwinter sunshine.
Woking started to retain possession as they settled into the
game, creating a good chance to go in front when Betsy tore down the Iron’s
left hand side in a quick attack for the Cards. His attempted chip from an
acute angle eventually flew well wide, much to the relief of Devonshire’s men. Up
the other end, Dan Holman took a lofted clearance down with one touch, but
could not do enough to test Beasant between the sticks as his attempt sailed
wide.
The Iron took every opportunity to counter attack, which
presented Sean Marks with an opportunity as he sprinted into the Woking box,
but Marks failed to get his shot on target and really test the goalkeeper. Chez
Isaac suffered a gashed head in the centre circle, sitting out five minutes of
the game towards the end of the first half, returning bandaged up before the
break. As the Cards broke down the Braintree right hand side, Mike Cestor was
brought down by Ryan Peters who went into the referee’s book for his late
challenge. The half ended goalless with Braintree in ascendance as Chez Isaac
had the final chance of the first 45, striking over the bar as the referee
called time.
The sides returned as the sun set behind Nic Hamann’s goal,
and Braintree took the game to their opponents early on. Sean Marks latched onto
a lay off by Dan Holman, but scuffed his shot wide of the Woking left post.
Dean Wells did well to get in front of a Kevan Betsy effort which was rifled at
the Iron goal having cut in from the right hand side. Hamann was called into
action as Keiran Murtagh twisted and turned in the box, with the Iron Keeper
putting the ball out for a corner with his foot. The resulting ball in could
not be cleared, and bobbled around the box before being pounced on by Murtagh.
From just a few yards out, Murtagh made the most of Braintree’s poor defending,
smashing the ball into the back of the net to put the home side ahead on the
hour mark.
Newton hit an effort hard and low to Hamanns left from 30
yards out, with the keeper doing well to hold onto the ball as the Iron soaked
up more pressure from Woking. Massey was next to show his defensive bravery as
he threw himself in front of a Woking effort, which were becoming more and more
frequent as the home side began to take control. Braintree were not without their chances, and
continued to counter, with Isaac winning a free kick just inside his own half.
The long ball in was chested down to Alan Massey, who couldn’t hit the target
and fired over the bar.
As the home side broke again, Dan Wells’ block trickled out
to Josh Paine, whose effort was sent slightly wide as the home side looked to extend
their lead. Alan Massey kept his side in it with a perfectly timed tackle on
Keva Betsy, who carried the ball into the Braintree box and was seconds from pulling
the trigger when Massey robbed him to keep the deficit to just one.
Braintree had some decent play down the right hand side,
with Jordan Cox getting his head on a searching ball in. The substitute’s
effort beat Beasant who was off of his line, and hit the back of the net. However,
the travelling celebrations were halted early when the referee gave a free kick
to the Cards for a push by Cox.
Mulley stole the ball in the middle of the pitch and carried
the ball alone into the Woking box, shooting with the outside of his right boot
which was scooped up by Sam Beasant. Mensah had an effort in injury time which
flew over the bar, summing up the afternoon for Braintree. The final whistle
came with the score line 1-0 to send the Iron home empty handed in a hard
fought battle against a solid Woking side.
Alan Devonshire couldn’t hide his discontent after the game
saying “We were poor, and I just have to apoologise to the fans because we were
poor. I’m really disappointed and I’m gutted, because that’s our worst
performance by far. For 90minutes we were poor today, but we still had our
chances.”
Woking: Beasant, Newton, Nutter, Ricketts, McNerney, Sole,
Betsy, Cestor, Paine, Goddard (Johnson), Murtagh (Wright)
Unused Subs: McNamee, Little, Beckles
Braintree Town: Hamann, Peters, Habergham, Isaac (Daley),
Paine, Davis (Mensah), Marks, Holman (Cox), Massey, Wells, Mulley
Unused Subs: McDonald, Geohaghan
Attendance: 1270
Referee: Adam Hopkins
Assistant referees: Adrian Quelch, Jason Richardson
4th Official: Gary Parsons
