Braintree are left ecstatic after the drama of a penalty shootout

Vanarama National League South Play-off eliminator

(after extra-time, Braintree won 3-2 on penalties)

The drama of a penalty shootout saw Braintree Town keep their Vanarama National League South promotion dreams on track at Hemel Hempstead.

The two meetings between the sides during the regular season had been tight encounters, but the Tudors had taken the points in both.

The came from behind to capitalise on a poor spell from Braintree in the middle of the match to win 4-3 at Vauxhall Road and then backed that up with a 2-1 win at the IronmongeryDirect Stadium.

So Braintree were looking for revenge in the third match-up between the two clubs, but, true to form, it stayed tight between the two over 90 minutes of normal time and then an added 30 extra minutes.

The hosts had perhaps the better of the chances over the 120 minutes, but there was nothing to split them and it went to a penalty shootout.

And Hemel were left to rue not taking chances as the Iron won 3-2 in the shootout to book a semi-final date.

Scott Shulton, David Moyo and Herschel Sanchez-Watt all failed to convert their penalties for the hosts, while the Iron had Marcel Barrington, Luke Allen and Dan Thompson all scoring to go through 3-2 in the most dramatic fashion.

There had been just one change in Braintree’s starting line-up from the 3-0 win against Gloucester City as Marcel Barrington replaced Ben Wyatt, who dropped to the bench.

And Barrington made a lively start as he pressed early on for the Iron, but neither side were really able to get on top in the opening exchanges.

Both took a while to settle, but it was the Tudors who found their feet first and Iron goalkeeper Nathan McDonald had to come to his team’s rescue on ten minutes.

David Moyo got away after a ball over the top caught the Iron back line square and although his first touch was a bit heavy and took him wide, McDonald had to make a smart save from the Hemel striker’s eventual shot.

Braintree, meanwhile, struggled to have clear sights of goal and the closest they came was a Dan Thompson effort that went wide and a 25-yard drive by Luke Allen that sailed over the bar.

It was the hosts who looked more likely to break the deadlock through most of the first half and they had another near miss on 24 minutes when skipper Jordan Parkes’ fierce drive from the edge of the box flew inches wide of the target.

The Tudors stayed looking the more threatening of the two sides but the thing lacking and preventing them taking the lead was composure in the final third.

It seemed as though they wanted an extra touch every time they closed in on the Braintree box and that allowed Braintree to defend the danger.

It was the case on 34 minutes when former Colchester United player and Arsenal youngster Herschel Sanchez-Watt danced through a couple of tackles and into the Iron area.

The way was clear for his shot, but he delayed a second too long and a superb blocking tackle by Josh Hill meant the ball was diverted into the side netting when a goal looked certain.

It meant the game stayed locked at 0-0 at half-time and Braintree went looking to make sure Hemel rued missed chances at the start of the second half.

It was a better tempo from the Iron and they pressed after the break with home keeper Laurie Walker collecting a long Billy Crook free-kick after it somehow got through a scrum of bodies in the area.

Barrington then sent a shot fizzing past the post when he tried his luck from distance, but the breakthrough didn’t come and the Tudors began to see more of the attacking play.

On 58 minutes, the hosts worked the ball out wide and a cross was met by the head of Moyo but the ball landed in McDonald's arms.

The Iron keeper then came to his team’s rescue again on 64 minutes after Parkes was set free by a through ball but McDonald came out smartly to make a great save.

With neither side able to make the breakthrough, it stayed locked together and very tight as the game entered the final 15 minutes.

The Iron went desperately close in the closing minutes when Wyatt's corner looped into the Hemel Hempstead box and was met by Josh Hill on the half volley but it cleared the bar by inches.

It was part of a strong finish from Braintree, but neither they nor their hosts could force a goal before the final whistle and the game headed into extra-time The first period was understandably cagey, but became increasingly stretched as players tired and the Iron thought they had taken the lead on 100 minutes.

The ball was fired low across the Hemel area and was met forcefully by Allen, who had started to celebrate only to see Walker pull off the most incredible save.

It was one-handed with the ball having already gone past him and a wonderful piece of keeping that kept parity in place as the first period ended with it still goalless.

It stayed that way at the start of the final 15-minute block, although Braintree felt aggrieved not to get penalties on more than one occasion late on when Wyatt went over in the area and then Parkes appeared to handle in the area.

There were no goals though and it meant penalties were needed as Braintree kept their promotion push going with a 3-2 win on a memorable night.

Braintree Town: Nathan McDonald, Jon Muleba, Ricky Gabriel, Josh Hill, Mark-Anthony Okoye, Diaz Wright, Luke Allen, Billy Crook (Ben Wyatt 69), Dan Thompson, Reece Grant (Roman Michael-Percil 74,), Marcel Barrington.

Subs not used: Harry Aldridge, Mahrez Bettache, Christian Frimpong.

Referee: Will Finnie.