BRAINTREE TOWN 0 LINCOLN CITY 4

Vanarama National League

Braintree Town were unable to move themselves further away from the Vanarama National League drop zone as they fell to a 4-0 home defeat by Lincoln City.

The National League leaders will be heading to the home of Premier League side Arsenal on Saturday in the quarter-finals of the FA Cup and gave themselves the perfect build-up.

Former Braintree management duo Danny and Nicky Cowley returned to their old club and the three points their current side picked up allowed them to move six points clear at the top of the standings.

They had a hat-trick from Lee Angol, who was making his debut after signing on loan from Peterborough United, and a late Nathan Arnold strike to thank for their win.

The Iron have their attentions fixed at the other end of the table, though, and while it was a disappointing result, they remained where they started their evening - six points clear of the bottom four.

Braintree made just one change from the side that lost 2-1 to Wrexham on Saturday as Sam Corne came in for the suspended Chez Isaac, who was out after totting up ten bookings.

The game started with Braintree pressed back and any hopes of catching Lincoln with their minds on FA Cup glory were rapidly dismissed as they were quickly into their stride.

It was typical of the football Braintree fans had got used to seeing last year when the Cowleys were leading them rather than opposing them.

The Imps dominated possession with a high tempo, moved the ball quickly forward and pressed their hosts’ defensive line as they got on top.

A Sean Raggett header forced Sam Beasant into an early save, before a corner led to some pinball in the Iron goalmouth and a clearance off the line was required to keep it level.

Elliott Whitehouse then fancied his luck from about 30 yards out but Beasant saw it all the way and made a straightforward stop as the hosts continued to repel the Imps.

However, they were unable to in the 15th minute as Lee Angol put the visitors ahead.

It was a goal that had been coming and arrived just after Whitehouse had struck the underside of the crossbar with a fierce shot.

The ball was cleared for a corner and Angol, who had only joined on loan from Peterborough the day before, buried it to give Lincoln a deserved lead.

There would have few who could deny them their lead and it became a two-goal advantage in the 22nd minute.

Lincoln broke quickly down their right and as Angol escaped the Iron’s back line, he made no mistake as he drilled a low effort past Beasant.

With their two-goal lead in their pocket, though, Lincoln were unable to forge further ahead and the game quietened down a bit.

Braintree’s best opportunities seemed to come from set pieces and Imps keeper Paul Farman was called into action when Manny Parry’s head met one free-kick, but Farman was largely untroubled.

There were glimpses of encouragement for Braintree as the half drew to a close, though.

They started pressing down the flanks more and got the ball into the Imps box more, however, clear-cut chances remained frustratingly elusive as the opening period ended with the visitors holding their 2-0 lead.

The second half started with Lincoln pressing for a third goal and they did have the ball in the back of the net off the head of Jonny Margetts but referee Neil Hair had spotted a foul in the build-up and celebrations were cut short.

It allowed Braintree to start building themselves as they began to get more into Lincoln territory, however, clear scoring chances stayed hard to come by.

When they did fall to them, though, Braintree did themselves few favours.

A free-kick on the edge of the box was taken by Reece Hall-Johnson, but he slipped as he hit it and the ball soared high over the bar.

There was then a sight of goal as the ball broke to Monty Patterson in the box, but he was off balance and skewed his shot well wide of the target.

It meant Lincoln held on to their advantage and they extended that with eight minutes to go.

Substitute Matt Rhead went over under a challenge by Jerome Okimo and Angol stepped forward to complete his treble on his Imps debut with a goal from the penalty spot.

Two minutes later, the Iron defence was stretched by some good movement from the visitors and the ball fell to Arnold at the back post where he tucked it into the corner of the net.

Braintree kept pressing until the end, but they were unable to breach the Imps’ back line, including one Alex Henshall effort that was cleared off the line as Lincoln held on to their clean sheet.

Braintree Town: Sam Beasant, Jerome Okimo, Manny Parry, Frankie Musonda, Sean Clohessy, Sam Corne (Joe Maybanks 73), Harry Lee, Reece Hall-Johnson, Monty Patterson (Alex Henshall 65), Jack Midson, Michael Cheek.

Subs not used: Lee Barnard, Claudio Dias, Kris Twardek.

Referee: Neil Hair.