Late goal at St Albans hits Braintree's play-off bid

Vanarama National League South

There were goals at either end of their match at St Albans but the one coming five minutes before the final whistle proved a hammer blow to Braintree Town against one of their play-off rivals.

St Albans were sitting fourth in the Vanarama National League South table at the start of the day and finished up as 2-1 winners to put a dent in the Iron’s hopes of finishing in the top seven.

Braintree had been denied a finish in their previous outing as a waterlogged pitch caused an abandonment of their Good Friday action at the IronmongeryDirect Stadium and there was further frustration at the end of the Easter weekend.

Josh Hill had given them the ideal start with a goal inside the first 90 seconds, but St Albans hit back after the break and two Sam Merson strikes saw the points stay in Hertfordshire.

Braintree made three changes from the side that started their aborted game against Oxford City on Good Friday.

They saw Roman Michael-Percil, Josh Hill and Dan Thompson all return to the starting line-up, with Billy Crook and Luke Allen both suspended and Reece Grant dropping to the bench.

After the frustration of Good Friday, Braintree were looking to make up for lost time against one of their key play-off rivals and wasted little time in doing just that.

There was less than 90 seconds on the clock when they took the lead.

The goal came from the slightly unusual source of Josh Hill, with the Iron centre-half spotting St Albans keeper Dean Snedker off his line and curling the ball into the top corner.

It was the perfect start for the Iron and gave them a platform to build from but the game settled down with neither side really able to dominate possession or territory.

That meant a lack of clear-cut chances for both teams although both did have sights as the half came to a close.

St Albans were awarded a free-kick on the right-hand apex of the Iron box and Rhys Murrell-Williamson curled a teasing ball to the far post, but no home players were able to apply a decisive touch to turn it in.

But the first 45 minutes ended with Braintree back on the attack with two chances on 44 minutes.

The ball had broken forward for Michael-Percil who raced on and saw his shot well saved by Snedker.

That was then followed by an opportunity for Ben Wyatt as the ball span loose, but his effort lacked the power it needed to trouble the home keeper.

It meant the half ended with Braintree holding just the one-goal lead, but they looked to add to that as the second half started.

The Iron held possession well in the opening exchanges and set the tempo, with St Albans unable to pose much danger in the early stages of the half.

Any time they did get forward, the Iron stayed organised in defence and it appeared that the only way an equaliser would come was going to be from a set piece.

And that was the way it came about on 59 minutes as a David Noble corner was met by the onrushing Sam Merson and clinically tucked away.

It looked a well-rehearsed routine but Iron would have been disappointed not to have defended it better as Merson got the run on to the loose out-swinging ball.

The Iron now had to contend with a St Albans side whose tails were back up and they went close to taking the lead from another corner.

More poor marking by the Iron saw Jamie Sendles-White allowed to get a shot away only for it to cannon back off the woodwork as the Iron got a reprieve.

They kept pressing, though, and after great play by Diaz Wright on the right, Thompson had a sight of goal but Snedker made a great reflex save from close range to deny the Iron striker.

It was a good chance for the visitors, but they were soon back having to defend.

A great break down the right by Kieran Monlouis on 74 minutes ended with him sliding the ball teasingly across the Iron goalmouth.

It was met by Zane Banton with a golden opportunity, but he scooped it over the bar when he really should have hit the target and the game stayed locked at one apiece.

That didn’t last though, as St Albans went ahead in the 85th minute when a direct ball through the middle opened the Iron defence and Merson slid the ball into the bottom corner past an exposed Nathan McDonald.

The Iron suddenly had it all to do but couldn’t respond and it was St Albans’ promotion bid that got the boost rather than Braintree’s.

Braintree Town: Nathan McDonald, Jon Muleba, Ricky Gabriel, Josh Hill, Christian Frimpong (Reece Grant 87), Mark-Anthony Okoye, Diaz Wright, Roman Michael-Percil (Mahrez Bettache 77), Marcel Barrington, Ben Wyatt.

Subs not used: Jack Curtis, Lewis Stantiall, Alfie Cleal.

Referee: Robert Massey-Ellis.