Salisbury picked up a free kick in a dangerous position
seven minutes in when Chez Isaac was penalised for a foul twenty yards out on
the right hand side. Theo Lewis took the opportunity to float in a cross rather
than shoot, which was easily nodded out for a throw by Sean Marks who was back
fulfilling his defensive duties. Minutes later Stuart Sinclair tried a
spectacular effort from just inside the Iron half. Hamann rushed out of his
area to clear a loose ball played through by the visitors, but scuffed only as
far as Sinclair who took the opportunity to attempt a long range lob on the
keeper. However, his attempt floated over the bar to the relief of the Iron.
Dan Holman had a half chance for Braintree quarter of an
hour in, drifting in from the wing to his natural position to pick up a ball
nodded into the centre of the pitch from a throw. Holman’s shot was not enough
to test James Bittner in goal for the visitor’s, going over for a goal kick.
But it was the Whites that were to go ahead on eighteen
minutes with a nodded goal from Charlie Sherringham. Ryan Brett played the ball
in from deep, which was flicked on by Chris McPhee, and directed into the
bottom corner by Sherringham who showed the same attacking instinct of that of
his father Teddy.
Minutes from half time, Holman’s switch up front allowed him
to pick up the ball midway into the Salisbury half and fire a shot at goal that
trickled just wide. The switch gave some life to the Iron attack, with the home
side on the front foot leading up to half time. Next to have a shot was Kenny
Davis from inside the area on the Iron’s left. After going out for a corner,
Josh Laurent picked up at the other side of the box, and saw his heavily
deflected effort go behind for yet another corner. But the good spell that the
Iron had created ended in the worst possible way when James Clarke fell to the
floor holding his head. The referee
immediately ran to Sean Marks, brandishing the red for an off the ball incident
that saw Marks throw an arm at the Salisbury defender who made the most of the
contact, leaving the Iron a goal and a man behind at the half time whistle.
Alan Devonshire took the opportunity at half time to vent his anger towards the
decision, running the width of the pitch to meet Colin Lymer.
Iron came out after the break with the hunger that had seen
them reinstalled to fourth place reinstalled, after waiting for the referee to
remerge from the tunnel minutes after the two sides. Both Holman and Jakubiak
had chances in the box, but the shot that would level the scoring could not be
found within the first fifteen minutes of the second half, which then saw
Jakubiak replaced by Jordan Cox who made his return. It was long until Cox
found a chance, coming across to the right hand side to get onto a looping ball
forward, and slice an opportunity wide. Cox’s height started to come of use
when he won a lofted ball forward, and took on the visiting goalkeeper, who
dived at Cox’s feet immediately waving for attention from the physio.
Finding plenty of space down the right hand side, the
Salisbury right back Kevin Amankwaah carried the ball deep into the Iron half,
crossing to Chris McPhee, who cut in and rifled over with his right. Both Cox
and Paine picked up yellows before the final ten minutes, with Paine’s foul
setting up a free kick just outside the area for the visitors. Theo Lewis
struck the ball sweetly, demanding the best from Hamann who met the shot diving
to his left hand side and parrying out for a corner.
Stuart Sinclair avoided any challenge by the Iron when he
tore down the Salisbury left wing. The midfielder cut in at the by-line to
cross to Sherringham, who was just yards away from the goal line when he
deflected an effort straight at Hamann who held well. When Chris McPhee went
down after a challenge from Chez Isaac, another yellow was shown to an Orange
shirt, which signalled the end of the chances much to the frustration of
Braintree who had been the better side in the second half even with ten men.
After the frustration of the dismissal, Devonshire travelled the same length to
shake the hands of the officials on full time.
Commenting after, Alan Devonshire said “It was a game too
far for us today, the week has caught up with us. I was in bed for the earliest
I’ve been in about ten years so how them lot feel I do not know” When
responding to how Braintree would cope without Sean Marks who faces suspension,
Alan said “Hopefully Jordan is alright, he’s been out for seven weeks but I
thought he did well when he came on so he’ll start. Hopefully his back’s
alright, if not we’ll have to find another way.”
Away manager Mikey Harris gave
“massive credit to Braintree, especially with the fixture schedule that they
have with three games in a week, which should never really happen to be honest,
but credit to them for keep coming at us and making it difficult to us.”
Kenny Davis also reflected on the
loss. “We’re a little bit downbeat, but it’s still in our hands so we’ve just
got to carry on. We’re tired, obviously lost a couple of players as well. It’s
been a hard week, but to still be in with a shout, the boys have done
brilliant. I think if we had eleven men, I think we would have won. We didn’t
concede too many goals, which what with the goal difference could come in
crucial. Who would have thought we would have been in this situation at the beginning
of the year? We’ve got to get as many people down here, the whole town down
here to create an intimidating atmosphere. What an achievement it would be to
get the boys in the playoffs and have the playoff down here.”
Braintree Town: Hamann, Paine, Habergham, Wells, Massey,
Isaac, Davis, Laurent (Daley), Jakubiak (Cox), Marks, Holman
Unused Subs: McDonald, Daley, Carney, Holdsworth
Salisbury City: Bittner, Brett, Clarke, Wilson, McPhee,
Lewis, Frear (Fitchett), Kamdjo (Wellard), Sinclair, Amankwaah, Sherringham
Unused Subs: White, George
Referee: Colin Lymer
Assistants: Mark Potkins and Darren StobbartFourth Official: Paul Burnham
Attendence: 905
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