Braintree run out of steam as Harriers swoop for a late point (From Braintree and Witham Times)

Braintree run out of steam as Harriers swoop for a late point

11:25am Wednesday 5th September 2012 in Sport

By Ron Fosker

BRAINTREE TOWN1 KIDDERMINSTER HARRIERS1
Blue Square Bet Premier

AFTER two successive impressive wins Braintree slumped back into old habits when they failed to capitalise on their earlier superiority.

They led from the 17th minute through a superb goal from new-signing Dan Holman – his fourth in three games – and a further goal or two would not have flattered them at half-time.

Even at the start of the second half, they continued to look aggressive.
Brad Quinton drove just over the bar three minutes into the half.

Then in the 16th minute, a flick from Michael Gash only just evaded Holman, followed immediately by Gash himself being robbed at the last minute from a Quinton cross.

But that was about it.

Kidderminster, something of a sleeping giant in the league this season, with only one point from their six matches after narrowly missing the play-offs last season, came gradually more into the game.

And with the part-time players of Braintree visibly tiring while the full-timers of Kidderminster pushed ever onwards, the ball rarely left the home half in the last half hour.

Steve Guinan shot just over the bar and then Lee Vaughan had a long shot blocked.

Their perseverance was rewarded in the 88th minute when Mickey Demetriou had a fierce shot blocked but followed up with an even more thunderous one that rocketed into the net.

It was a disappointment for the home side, but they could not argue it was not deserved.

Iron had looked a different side in the first half, spreading the ball around neatly and looking sharp all over the pitch.

And Holman once again showed his value to the side.

He received the ball with his back to the goal, just outside the penalty area, flicked it round a defender and drove it high into the net.

But they could not hang on at the end.

Braintree: Naisbitt; Peters (Paine 68), Wells, Bailey-Dennis, Habergham; Quinton, Davis, Symons, Sparkes (Dawkin 72); Holman (Marks 85), Gash.