Defeat at Barrow leaves Braintree still looking for first win

Vanarama National League

Braintree Town made the long trip back from Barrow still looking for their first win of the Vanarama National League after an early strike was enough to earn the hosts a 1-0 victory.

John Rooney got what was to prove the decisive strike in the sixth minute and while Braintree pressed hard after that early setback, they were unable to break down a home defence that was clinging on at times towards the end of the encounter.

Iron boss Brad Quinton made two changes from the side that started the 4-3 defeat by Havant and Waterlooville in their previous game.

Lyle Della-Verde and Mahrez Bettache moved to the bench as Dan Thompson came back into the Iron’s starting line-up along with Billy Crook.

It was the first start of the campaign for Crook after he had completed the five-game suspension that he had started the season with.

Braintree were hoping that Crook’s return would signal an upturn of their fortunes as they looked for their first win of the season, but it was the Bluebirds who made the stronger start.

They had a couple of close calls, including one chance that Tyler Smith was unable to convert, and Braintree were placed on the back foot in the opening minutes.

And the home pressure told in the sixth minute when John Rooney gave them the lead after a flowing move down the Braintree left.

It came when a ball was played out of central midfield to the right where full-back Jack Barthram had advanced and pulled it into the Iron box.

It reached Jason Taylor first, but he stepped over the ball and as it came to Rooney, he fired past Ben Killip and into the net off the inside of the post.

It was not the start that the Iron had hoped for, but they regrouped to get a foothold in the game as well as denying a buoyant Barrow any chance of adding to their early strike.

The balance of play became more even as things settled down, but the Iron were crucially unable to pose a consistent threat on the home goal in the first half.

The closest they went was when a ball from Thompson allowed Mohamed Bettamer to get a shot away but it was slightly rushed as he was closed down and went wide of the target.

There was no further scoring before the break and Barrow came out looking to add to their tally after half-time, with Killip having to make a save from an effort by Smith and Rooney fizzing a shot just over as they kept the pressure on the Iron.

Unlike in the first half, though, the Bluebirds could not turn it into a goal and a drop in their concentration almost led to a Braintree goal.

With keeper Andrew Firth caught out of position, the ball was worked from Luke Allen to Thompson, who looked to capitalise on the error but he couldn’t make the hosts pay as he failed to keep his shot on target and fired over the bar.

But while it wasn’t turned into an equaliser, the opportunity saw the Iron step things up again and they posed an increasingly greater threat towards the Barrow goal.

Braintree weren’t able to turn it into goals although they did have the ball in the back of the Barrow net only to see it ruled out after Reece Grant, who fired the ball in, had drifted offside.

Despite not being able to get a leveller, it was the Iron who were making all the running in the latter stage of the game as Barrow were left looking a bit ragged at times.

The visitors enjoyed far more of the possession and it was the home defence that found itself under pressure, however, the game ended with Barrow gratefully holding on to their slender lead at the final whistle.

Braintree will now look to break their season’s win duck when they host Maidenhead United at Cressing Road on Bank Holiday Monday.

Braintree Town: Ben Killip, Jon Muleba, Olu Durojayi, Michael Clark, Josh Hill, Luke Allen, Billy Crook (Lyle Della-Verde 80), Dan Thompson (Irnti Rapai 66), Mohamed Bettamer, Kodi Lyons-Foster, Reece Grant (Christie Patterson 78). Substitutes not used: Henry Ochieng, Mahrez Bettache.

Referee: James Oldham.