LINCOLN CITY 3

BRAINTREE TOWN 0

Vanarama National League

Braintree Town battled hard but they were unable to give Hakan Hayrettin a positive result to start his time in charge of the Iron.

The former Luton Town coach had only taken charge of the team on Tuesday after the departure of Jamie Day and his time at the helm started with a 3-0 defeat at Lincoln City.

The result followed the recent form books between the two Vanarama National League teams, with Braintree having lost their last previous nine encounters against the Imps.

And goals at the start of either half proved costly on this occasion as it became ten losses in a row.

It meant Braintree were unable to get one over on their former manager Danny Cowley, who had left the Iron at the end of last season to take charge at Sincil Bank.

While the Iron had lost their previous two games, Cowley’s current side came into the game on the back of three games without a win, but it was Lincoln who managed to change their fortunes, with a stunning third goal coming late on in the game.

Hayrettin had made three changes to the Braintree side that had started Jamie Day’s final game in charge – the 1-0 defeat by Forest Green Rovers – a week before.

Jon Ashton and Jack Midson both returned from hamstring and knee injuries respectively, while Ollie Muldoon came into the midfield after joining on loan from Charlton Athletic the day before.

Dropping to the bench were Jack Cowgill and Sam Corne, while Sam Matthews was left out completely.

Braintree were looking to make a good start in Hayrettin’s first game in charge, but they were put on the back foot early by the hosts.

Iron fans got used to Danny Cowley teams making quick starts when he was their manager last year and the Imps did just that with a goal in the third minute.

The opening blow came after the physicality of striker Matt Rhead won the ball in midfield, he laid it off to Nathan Arnold who buried a low shot under the dive of Will Puddy.

Chez Isaac was left in a heap by Rhead's physical challenge, leaving the defence badly exposed and it was the last thing that Braintree wanted in the opening minutes.

They struggled to get to grips with Rhead and he soon went close to getting a second when he eased Craig Braham-Barrett off the ball from a cross, but headed over on this occasion.

Braintree had to battle to get a foothold in the game, but once they had settled down from the early setback, they began to put pressure on at the other end.

Space behind the Imps defence was exploited with Midson, Michael Cheek and Simeon Akinola all working hard to forge openings.

Their first real sight of goal came from a lovely cross is swung in by Harry Lee, with Jake Goodman asking a question of Paul Farman, who had to make a save from the Iron defender's header.

A long throw from Harry Lee was then headed on by Ashton under pressure and Simeon Akinola turned and fired but his shot was over the bar.

However, it was to be one of Ashton’s last moments of note as he went off in the first of two first-half defensive injury blows for the visitors.

The experienced central defender came off in the 24th minute after going down with what looked like a recurrence of the hamstring injury that had kept him out of the previous game.

Ashton was replaced by Jack Cowgill, but that disruption was compounded by the loss of his centre-half partner Jake Goodman 12 minutes later as he also went off clutching his hamstring.

It meant changes at the back for the Iron, with Jerome Okimo stepping inside from the full-back position, but it was Braintree who finished the half in the ascendancy.

They were dealing with Lincoln’s threats far better in midfield and covering well at the back, while they tried to exploit spaces at the other end of the pitch and were inches away from an equaliser as the half drew to a close.

Awesome battling from Isaac set up an attack and Muldoon laid ball off to Cheek who drove a shot that fizzed just wide of the target.

Having ended the first half in the ascendancy, though, they were hit by a fast start from the hosts once more at the beginning of the second.

Lincoln put pressure on and threw ball after ball into the Iron box, with Cowgill having to make several important headers.

However, they just couldn’t clear their lines effectively and the second goal came after five minutes from a corner.

It was a silly corner for Braintree to concede as Puddy appeared to have carried the ball over the line and it was swung to the back post to where Luke Waterfall was waiting to head in.

If the goal at the start of the first half was a big blow, this was a massive one and left the Iron with a mountain to climb.

However, they responded well again and Harry Lee tested Farman from a decently struck free-kick as they searched for a way back in.

The Imps still looked comfortable, though, and Puddy had to be alert to claw the ball back when Waterfall headed towards goal from another corner as they looked to add to their lead.

And they added a late third goal when substitute Jack Muldoon was set free by a free-kick and he unleashed an unstoppable shot that flew into the roof of the net to wrap up the points for the hosts.

Braintre Town: Will Puddy, Jerome Okimo, Harry Lee, Jon Ashton (Jack Cowgill 24), Jack Midson, Chez Isaac, Simeon Akinola, Craig Braham-Barrett, Ollie Muldoon (Lee Barnard 72), Jake Goodman (Barney Williams 36), Michael Cheek.

Unused subs: Brandon Goodship, Sam Corne.

Referee: Steve Rushton.