BRAINTREE TOWN 5 HUNGERFORD TOWN 0

Vanarama National League South

Braintree Town’s InmongeryDirect Stadium home remained their fortress as they secured their fourth win of the Vanarama National League South season there with a five-star show.

Hungerford Town arrived in Essex with an impressive record of having won their previous three outings on the road under joint caretaker managers Ian Herring and Jon Boardman.

And they looked capable of extending that run in the early stages, but found themselves blown away by a Braintree blitz in the final 15 minutes of the first half.

The Iron took complete control as Roman Michael-Percil scored twice within four minutes and Phil Roberts added a third to leave their visitors shell-shocked.

It made the second half a bit of a formality, but Roberts’ second of the game and a late fifth by Ben Wyatt capped the win and saw Braintree take their unbeaten run to four games in all competitions.

A clean sheet was the icing on the cake for the hosts as they remained unbeaten from their six home games in the league so far this year.

The Iron made just one change from the side that started their FA Cup replay win at Royston in midweek, with Alfred Mugabo returning in place of Scott Shulton after his sending off on Tuesday.

Following Braintree’s win at Royston, it meant both sides were returning to league duties on the back of FA Cup success, but both made reserved starts to the game.

Defences were on top in the opening exchanges and clear-cut chances were at a premium as the respective goalkeepers were given little to do.

That was until the 14th minute when home keeper Nathan McDonald had to be alert from a Hungerford corner.

The ball had fallen threateningly to Gareth Thomas about ten yards out and his first-time shot was heading into the roof of the net before McDonald tipped it over the bar.

Braintree were unable to offer too much in the way of a goal threat in the opening half an hour as Hungerford looked the more likely to get a breakthrough.

They were solid at the back and not afraid to commit resources going forward as the Iron’s back line was kept busy.

The visitors then went close to an opener again on 28 minutes when Louie Soares twisted and turned on the edge of the box before firing off a low shot that came through a few bodies and McDonald had to be alert again to make the save.

So it was somewhat against the run of play when Braintree went ahead in the 31st minute.

They were on the attack and, after a foul on Roberts, referee Will Fennie intelligently allowed play to go on, which enabled Michael-Percil to unleash a beautiful shot that flew into the top corner from just outside the box.

It was a peach of a goal and, with confidence suddenly flowing through them, the hosts doubled their lead on 35 minutes, with Michael-Percil on target again for Braintree.

It came after tenacious play by Roberts on the edge of the box that allowed him to get his strike partner away and he took it on, rounded a couple of challenges and although his final shot was a bit scuffed, it had enough to beat Lewis Ward in the Hungerford goal.

Braintree’s tails were certainly up now and patient build-up play ended with Roberts firing in a low shot from the edge of the box that flew just past the post.

Having taken control of the game, the Iron went further ahead in the 42nd minute and it was Roberts on target this time.

The third goal came after Billy Crook was fouled by Callum Willmoth and the resulting free-kick was taken cleverly to Roberts, who got clear and lobbed the advancing Ward and into the goal.

With a 3-0 lead in the bag at half-time, the Iron were in complete control and came out looking to add to their tally after the restart, with confident play going forward.

In a bid to forge a way back into the game, the visitors made a triple change in the 58th minute.

Ian Herring was replaced by Scott Rees, James Clark by Jordan Simpson and Nicholas Bignall by Jamal Lawrence as they looked to commit even more players forward.

They frequently had four up front, but that left space in midfield and it was exploited in the 67th minute as Roberts gathered the ball before surging powerfully forward and drilling a precise finish past Ward.

There really was no way back from there for the visitors and a fifth goal came for the Iron with four minutes remaing.

Tenacious play by substitutes Mahrez Bettache and Dernell Wynter ended with Ben Wyatt tucking the ball in at the back post to cap a great day on home turf for the Iron and their supporters.

Braintree Town: Nathan McDonald, Jon Muleba, Ricky Gabriel, Osa Obamwonyi, Marc-Anthony Okoye, Alfred Mugabo, Luke Allen (Mahrez Bettache 73), Billy Crook, Phil Roberts (Karl Oliyide 69), Ben Wyatt, Roman Michael-Percil (Dernell Wynter 76).

Subs not used: Christian Frimpong, Tyler Campbell.

Referee: Will Finnie.