DARTFORD 0 BRAINTREE TOWN 1

Vanarama National League South

Play-off semi-final

Braintree Town kept cool heads in scorching heat to book their place in the Vanarama National League South play-off final with a 1-0 win at Dartford.

On a glorious May day in warm temperatures, the Iron claimed a fabulous victory that came thanks to a strike from fans' player-of-the-season Billy Crook that left them and their fans still dreaming of promotion glory this year.

It was a deserved victory as they bossed the play in the second half and Crook’s 73rd minute goal was just reward to set up a play-off final against Hampton and Richmond Borough next weekend.

The game at Dartford was a clash between two of the Vanarama National League South’s most in-form sides, with the Darts coming in on the back of a nine-game winning run.

Their last defeat had been a 1-0 defeat by Poole Town on March 10, while the Iron also came into it with strong form as they had won five and drawn one of their final six games of the campaign.

They had then enjoyed a wonderful night at Hemel Hempstead in mid-week when, after 120 minutes of football ended goalless, they progressed with a 3-2 win on penalties.

So it was a buoyant Braintree that headed to face the Darts, despite them knowing their opponents had had a whole week to prepare after not having to face a third play-off game like the Iron by finishing in the top three in the table.

Despite the rigours of his team’s midweek action, though, Iron boss Brad Quinton decided to keep faith with the players that had done so well at Hemel and named an unchanged starting line-up.

It was a frantic start to the game as a physically imposing Dartford side made a robust start, but the Iron matched that and settled into the pattern of the game.

Clear-cut chances were at a premium, though, until opportunities came at both ends in quick succession.

On 21 minutes a free-kick played into the Braintree area was latched on to by Dartford’s Ronnie Vint and his shot looked certain to open the scoring until Nathan McDonald made a breath-taking save.

The hero of Braintree’s penalty shootout on Wednesday was at it again and he somehow clawed the ball away to safety when it had already passed him and looked to be heading in.

Having survived that, though, the Iron set up a great chance themselves.

They broke from their own area with pace and in numbers and went close as Diaz Wright’s teasing ball across the area just eluded Billy Crook at the far post.

Any touch from Crook and it would have been 1-0, but it stayed goalless and that was again the case at the other end when McDonald made another superb save on 29 minutes.

Dartford’s Danny Mills had got clear of the Braintree back line to go one-on-one with McDonald, but the Iron keeper saved with his feet this time to maintain parity.

The game went on with Braintree having the better of the play, but Dartford having the better chances and that continued on 41 minutes when they capitalised on Crook losing possession in midfield.

It allowed the hosts to break down the left before ball was stood up to Pavey at the back post but he guided his header wide of the target to make sure it stayed goalless at half-time.

It stayed that way for the opening exchanges after the break, but it was a good start by Braintree and they had a great chance on 51 minutes.

The ball broke for Reece Grant to race clear one-on-one with Dartford keeper Berti Sckotterl, but as the Iron striker tried to go round the home shot-stopper, he robbed the ball and was able to clear the danger.

Braintree were definitely on top at that stage of the game, dictating the pace of the action with good use of the ball and not showing the effects of their game in midweek.

They were containing Dartford threats and breaking well to set up a string of chances.

On 68 minutes, lovely movement of the ball by the Iron set up a chance for Luke Allen but Sckotterl got down well to make the save and the Darts keeper saved again from Roman Michael-Percil after a great break on 72 minutes.

However, Braintree weren’t to be denied and they did finally go ahead a minute later.

A free-kick was played on the edge of the Dartford box to Marc-Anthony Okoye, who held the ball up brilliantly before playing it in to where Crook bundled it over the line.

It was the breakthrough they wanted and that their play had merited and left the visitors with 17 minutes to defend their lead.

In the scorching temperatures, players on both sides visibly tired but Dartford pressure was repelled by cool heads from the Braintree players and they deserved their win as they held on to their single-goal lead.

There were wild celebrations at the final whistle as the Iron’s promotion dreams went on and they will now face Hampton and Richmond Borough in the play-off final next weekend after they beat Chelmsford City 1-0 at Melbourne Park.

Braintree Town: Nathan McDonald, Jon Muleba, Ricky Gabriel, Josh Hill, Mark-Anthony Okoye, Diaz Wright, Luke Allen (Christian Frimpong 90), Billy Crook, Dan Thompson, Reece Grant (Roman Michael-Percil 59), Marcel Barrington (Ben Wyatt 84).

Subs not used: Harry Aldridge, Mahrez Bettache.

Referee: Lloyd Wood.