BRAINTREE TOWN 1 BOREHAM WOOD 2

Vanarama National League

Braintree Town were left feeling aggrieved not to have got any reward from their Vanarama National League game against Boreham Wood as they went down to a 2-1 defeat.

Simeon Akinola’s spectacular strike and some positive second-half play gave Braintree hope but they were hit by a sucker punch that allowed Boreham Wood to impose a fourth consecutive home defeat and leave them still looking for their first point under new boss Hakan Hayrettin.

Braintree made two changes from the side that started at Lincoln on Saturday with Jake Goodman and Jon Ashton succumbing to hamstring and calf injuries respectively that they picked up at the Imps.

In their place, and forming a new centre-back pairing, came loanees Jack Cowgill and George Elokobi, who signed on a one-month deal from Colchester United earlier in the day.

The experienced U’s defender came straight into the side and it was a positive start from Braintree as they looked to get on the front foot in the early stages.

They moved the ball with a good tempo and there was good movement off the ball, however, they were unable to fashion any clear cut chances and Boreham Wood were able to get a foothold in the game.

It was the visitors who had the first real sight of goal in the ninth minute when a spell of pressure ended with Bruno Ferrier curling an effort that clattered back off the bar.

A cross to the back post then saw Bruno Andrade poke the ball towards the Braintree goal and keeper Will Puddy had to get down well to make a save.

It maintained the deadlock, but should have come as a warning to the hosts as a similar ball into the box on 27 minutes led to the opening strike for Boreham Wood.

The goal, when it came, seemed to happen in slow motion as a hanging ball into the box was headed down and with the Iron defence looking too static, Ferrier almost walked the ball into the net.

It was a blow for Braintree and they were dealt another when Cowgill hobbled off in the latter stages of the first half to join the list of injured centre-halves at the club.

However, they almost ended the half level when lovely play from Braintree saw them break with swift move down the right.

It opened the Boreham defence, with Michael Cheek’s teasing cross being met by Simeon Akinola and only a superb block by Boreham keeper Grant Smith's leg denied the Iron an equaliser.

There was a positive start to the second half from the Iron as well and the opening minutes after the break were all about the hosts.

There were appeals for a penalty when Akinola appeared to be felled in the box after showing sone good trickery to get through the Boreham defence and long throws from Harry Lee into the area were also causing problems.

One fell to Cheek but his prodded effort was saved by Smith, while another was cleared only as far as Oli Muldoon, whose fierce shot was deflected away for a corner.

It was a start that merited a goal and it was spectacular when it came on 63 minutes.

A throw from Lee went shorter to Muldoon this time with players stacked in the box.

The Charlton loanee carried the ball under pressure and spread it wide to Chez Isaac who drilled a cross in that Akinola hit sweetly past Grant Smith in the Boreham goal.

There was suddenly a buzz about Braintree, with Muldoon looking particularly confident and he curled in a wonderful shot that Smith just about clawed away, while Akinola stung the keeper’s hands with an effort from 25 yards.

So it came as a massive sucker punch when the Iron found themselves trailing again in the 73rd minute.

Having bossed the 15 minutes after half-time, they saw Boreham break forward and Ferrier poked the ball past Puddy in the home goal.

Braintree had it all to do again and they responded by almost getting level again as a lovely free-kick from Lee found Akinola but he just wasn't able to get enough on it to take the ball past Smith.

Braintree kept battling as the clock ticked down and threw everything at the Boreham Wood defence, but they were unable to find another breakthrough as the game ended with the visitors holding on to their slender advantage.

Braintree: Will Puddy, Craig Braham Barret, Jerome Okimo, George Elokobi, Jack Cowgill (Ian Gayle 41), Harry Lee, Oli Muldoon, Chez Isaac, Jack Midson (Lee Barnard 64), Simeon Akinola, Michael Cheek.

Subs not used: Sam Matthews, Joe Maybanks, Sam Corne.

Referee: Carl Brook