Loss against Torquay completes disappointing Bank Holiday for Braintree Town

Vanarama National League

A frustrating afternoon completed a disappointing Bank Holiday weekend for Braintree Town as they were beaten 3-1 by visiting Torquay United.

The Iron had come into the long weekend looking to build on their 2-0 win against Aldershot Town, but a 2-1 loss at Barrow was followed by an under par display against the Gulls on home turf.

Braintree made three changes from the side that started in the game at Barrow with Michael Cheek failing a late fitness test on his ankle, while Jack Midson was also out and Jake Goodman dropped to the bench.

In their places came Ian Gayle, Craig Braham-Barrett and Lee Barnard.

It was a cagey start from both sides in the opening 20 minutes as they found their feet on a warm afternoon and neither were able to carve out much in the way of clear-cut chances.

However, the first warning sign came for Braintree when the bounce of an innocuous ball over the top seemed to catch out Jamie Butler in the home goal and it took a last-ditch clearance from Jon Ashton to get it away.

It was a brief reprieve, though, as Torquay's first away goal of the season was scored by Jamie Reid in the 21st minute.

Right-back Barney Williams got caught in possession inside his own box and former Iron midfielder Dan Sparkes showed good awareness to pull the ball back to Reid.

The Torquay man still had work to do but he curled a shot into the bottom corner to give the visitors the lead.

Braintree seemed to lose their heads a bit in the aftermath of the goal and yellow cards came for Simeon Akinola and Harry Lee, but they managed to regain their composure for an equalising goal.

It came from a set piece as Sam Corne's corner was headed on at the near post by Lee Barnard in the 33rd minute and Craig Braham-Barrett forced it over the line to get the Iron back on level terms.

Parity didn't last long, though, as Torquay went straight down the other end and there was good and bad from Jamie Butler in the home goal.

First he pulled off a wonderful diving save to deny Reid's fierce effort from the restart, but from the resulting corner, the Iron shot-stopper fumbled the ball allowing Giancarlo Gallifuoco to force it over the line to put the Gulls ahead again.

Braintree looked to find their way back into the game after the break and had some better possession, but lacked a killer touch in the final third of the pitch.

Ashton got his head on the end of Harry Lee’s free-kick but couldn’t direct it on target, Sam Corne dwelled on the ball too long when a snap shot may have troubled the keeper and Lee then skewed a shot wide from just outside the box as the Iron searched for a breakthrough.

It wouldn’t come at the end of the pitch they wanted, but Torquay did at the other end.

The game was put to bed in the 75th minute when Luke Young was allowed to advance through the middle and, with the Iron back line backing off, he stroked the ball into the bottom corner of the home goal to cap a frustrating afternoon for the Iron.

Braintree: Jamie Butler, Barney Williams, Jerome Okimo, Ian Gayle (Jake Goodman 53), Jon Ashton, Harry Lee (Rohdell Gordon 73), Sam Corne, Craig Braham-Barrett (Joe Maybanks 88), Chez Isaac, Simeon Akinola, Lee Barnard.

Subs not used: Zach Fagan, Josh Strizovic.

Referee: Carl Brook.