Braintree finish with nine men and a point from trip to Hampton

Vanarama National League South

A dramatic visit to Hampton and Richmond Borough saw Braintree Town end the game with nine men, but also a valuable point towards their Vanarama National League South play-off push.

Losing Billy Crook on 30 minutes to a red card and Luke Allen, deep in time added-on at the end of the game after he received a second yellow card, made things tough for the Iron.

But they overcame the odds and showed their determination to stay in the race for the play-offs in a strong display against their third-placed hosts.

The Iron started the game well and looked the more likely to take the lead in the opening half hour.

However, the sending off of Crook – for a late challenge on Hampton’s Josh Casey – changed the dynamic of the game and their backs were to the wall against a buoyant Hampton side.

Numbers counted for nothing, though, when Marcel Barrington fired Braintree into the lead with 12 minutes remaining.

However, it was a lead they were unable to hold on to as Ben Wynter levelled for the hosts before Allen also got his marching orders on an eventful afternoon.

Braintree made just one change from the side that had started their previous game – the 2-2 draw against Wealdstone – two weeks before.

That change saw Barrington returning to the side in place of Mahrez Bettache, who dropped to the bench.

It was a change that showed attacking intent and Braintree made a positive start as they looked to make a statement against a side pushing for automatic promotion.

They certainly took the game to their hosts in the opening stages with the first sight of goal coming for Dan Thompson in the fourth minute.

The Iron striker controlled the ball well before turning and firing just wide of the target.

There was then an opportunity for Ben Wyatt who saw his shot well held by Hampton keeper Seny Dieng, while at the other end, the Iron defence did a good job of keeping their high-flying hosts quiet.

Braintree worked hard all over the pitch and pressed Hampton, who struggled to work the ball through the well-organised orange ranks ahead of them.

It restricted the hosts to playing the ball long as their attacking effectiveness was cut down.

Meanwhile, Braintree stayed positive and on the half-hour mark, Barrington cut inside and curled in a shot that looked to be heading into the top corner until Dieng tipped it round the post with a fantastic save.

It was looking very positive for the visitors, but things took a turn for the worse a minute later as Braintree found themselves down to ten men.

It came when Crook was shown a straight red card for a late challenge on Hampton full-back Casey to leave the Iron with an uphill battle for the final hour of the game.

The Beavers almost took immediate advantage as a great cross from Shaun Jeffers found Bradley Hudson-Odoi on the penalty spot, but his fierce volley was kept out by a strong save from Nathan McDonald.

With the momentum in the match having swung in the home side’s favour, Braintree looked to stay organised in defence and regain a foothold in the game, which they did in the closing minutes before the break.

They were intent on not just sitting back and waiting for Hampton to come at them, though, and went close as the half drew to a close when Barrington’s ball into the middle just eluded Thompson as he closed in on the goal.

As it was, though, the half ended with neither side able to find the breakthrough.

Things stayed tight after the restart as the Iron looked to nullify their hosts’ numerical advantage by working hard and keeping the pressure on Hampton all over the pitch.

In forward positions, Barrington gave the Iron their greatest goal threat and Dieng had to be alert on 63 minutes to deny the striker as he looked to set up Thompson with a cross-cum-shot.

And, having ridden pressure from the home side, it was Barrington who turned the game back in the Iron’s favour.

With Hampton pressing forward for the winner and committing men high up the pitch, they found themselves caught cold in the 78th minute.

Braintree took advantage of a three on one break and Barrington was able to apply the finish to give the visitors a valuable lead.

Hampton suddenly had to throw even more caution to the wind and they looked to respond.

A minute after falling behind, Ben Wynter’s cross was flicked on by Max Kretzschmar only for the ball to just slip past the post.

However, the reprieve was brief for the Iron as they were pegged back on 81 minutes from a corner.

The equaliser came after the initial threat was cleared, but Kretzschmar regained possession on the edge of the box, before crossing for Wynter to poke home.

The closing minutes were inevitably backs-to-the-wall for the ten men of Braintree as Hampton threw everything at them.

Five extra minutes added at the end of the game was not what the Iron wanted to see and Casey fired just wide in the closing spell.

However, there was even more late drama for Braintree during that end period as Luke Allen joined Crook in being dismissed after receiving a second yellow card.

Braintree Town: Nathan McDonald, Marcel Barrington (Mahrez Bettache 88), Ricky Gabriel, Josh Hill, Christian Frimpong, Jon Muleba, Diaz Wright, Luke Allen, Billy Crook, Dan Thompson (Reece Grant 78), Ben Wyatt.

Subs not used: Matt Baxter, Roman Michael-Percil, Jack Curtis.

Referee: Jack Packman.