Early promise comes to nothing as Braintree are beaten by Maidenhead

Vanarama National League

Braintree Town were unable to turn early promise into goals as they were beaten 2-0 by Maidenhead United in the Vanarama National League.

While their win was a second of the campaign for the Magpies, Braintree were left looking for a first three-point haul and they were left disappointed after an encouraging start to the game.

The Iron started on the front foot and dominated the early stages, however Maidenhead saw off the pressure and a 28th minute goal turned momentum on its head.

It was suddenly the Magpies who were comfortably on top and a second strike a minute before half-time gave them a cushion of safety that they held on to through the second 45 minutes.

The game saw Alan Devonshire was back at Cressing Road for the first time since departing as Iron boss in 2015 and it proved a happy return for the former Braintree manager.

He had brought some familiar faces with him as goalkeeper Carl Pentney, Remy Clerima, Alan Massey, James Mulley and Ryan Peters, who had all been on the Iron’s books while Devonshire was manager, were among the Magpies’ matchday squad.

Four of them started for the visitors, while, there were five changes for Braintree from the side that started their 1-0 defeat at Barrow on Saturday.

They saw Ricky Gabriel, who was back for his first start of the season, Henry Ochieng, Lyle Della Verde, Christie Pattisson and Irnti Rapai all come in for the Iron.

Dropping out were injured duo Jon Muleba and Luke Allen, along with Reece Grant, Dan Thompson and Billy Crook, who all moved to the bench.

Changes were to be expected after such a long trip for the team two days earlier, but there was little sign of leginess in the opening part of the game and it was an encouraging start from the home side.

They were strong in the challenge in the opening stages and looked to move the ball quickly into forward areas.

And they were rewarded with the first chance of the game on six minutes when Rapai found a bit of space on the edge of the box and got a low shot away but it was dragged just wide of the post.

It was the opening that they would have wanted and when Maidenhead did begin to pose a greater threat as they started to see more of the ball, the home defence showed good discipline.

Braintree went close again on 21 minutes when good build-up play saw the ball fall to Della Verde and his shot was deflected just wide.

The hosts kept the pressure on and a minute later, Maidenhead keeper Carl Pentney came to punch a cross but didn't get enough on it.

While he was stricken on the floor, Della Verde got in a snap shot but it was rushed and went over the bar.

They were dominating possession and territory at this point, but Maidenhead showed they would be a threat and after a let-off for Braintree, did take the lead.

The close-call came on 24 minutes when a great bit of skill from Adrian Clifton saw them work the ball into the penalty area.

Josh Kelly found himself with just Ben Killip to beat in the Iron goal, but the Maidenhead striker’s composure was lacking and he scooped his shot over the bar.

The goal did come four minutes later, though, and it was a sucker punch for the Iron.

The ball had been cleared by the Braintree defence only to the edge of the box to where Clifton was waiting to hit a low drilled effort into the bottom corner and put the visitors ahead.

The goal was a blow for the hosts, who suddenly found themselves on the back foot and the next period of the game was an almost constant flow towards their goal.

Maidenhead dominated the ball and territory and any Braintree balls forward were instantly coming back as they found it tough to gain any meaningful possession.

The Iron were holding on, but unfortunately for them, they were unable to see out the half without conceding a second.

On 45 minutes a poor clearance allowed the ball to be reprocessed into the middle to where a powerful header from Ayo Obileye gave Killip no chance in the home goal and left the hosts with a bigger mountain to climb than they would have wanted.

Boss Brad Quinton made a double change at the break, with Crook and Grant coming on for Della Verde and Rapai respectively and it was an encouraging start for the hosts.

They had far more possession than they had in the latter part of the first half and moved the ball well, but there were crucially no breakthroughs in terms of goals.

With no strikes coming, balls forward started to be thrown long, but they were meat and drink for the Magpies’ central defenders and keeper Pentney.

When Braintree did get the ball down though, they showed what they were capable of and they crafted a great chance on 66 minutes.

It was the first time in the second half that Braintree had really worked the ball on the floor and they cut apart the Maidenhead defence to set Pattisson free.

He carried the ball on but composure was lacking at the crucial moment and he fired high over the target with the goal beckoning.

It was a shame for the hosts as a goal at that stage could have shifted the momentum in the game, but Maidenhead remained secure with their two goal advantage.

It meant they could sit in, absorb pressure and look to hit Braintree on the break, which they did.

First, Nana Owusu had an effort cleared off the line by Gabriel and then a break by Owusu down the left saw him square the ball to where James Akintunde had a tap in, but he got his feet in a tangle and skied the ball over the bar from close range.

Owusu then fired into the side netting and Akintunde had a shot smothered by a save from Ben Killip as the Iron rode their luck at times.

Meanwhile, they kept pushing at the other end as Bettamer had a shot saved by Pentney but there was no breakthrough and the Iron were left still looking for a first win of the campaign.

Braintree Town: Ben Killip, Kodi Lyons-Foster, Ricky Gabriel, Josh Hill, Michael Clark, Olu Durojaiye (Dan Thompson 76), Henry Ochieng, Lyle Della Verde (Billy Crook), Christie Pattisson, Mohamed Bettamer, Irnti Rapai (Reece Grant 45).

Substitutes not used: Mahrez Bettache, Christian Frimpong.

Referee: Declan Bourne.