Allen fires home dramatic late winner as Braintree beat Essex rivals

Vanarama National League South

Luke Allen proved Braintree Town’s last-gasp hero as he fired in a 98th minute winning goal in a dramatic finale to their Essex derby with Concord Rangers.

It had looked as though the Iron may get nothing from their Vanarama National League South encounter against their county rivals with five minutes to play, but late goals turned the game on its head as they finished up as 2-1 winners.

The first half was goalless as both sides were unable to find the clinical edge required to make the most of the scoring chances they created.

Although Braintree had the lion’s share of possession after the break, they were frustrated for lengthy spells and even more so after Adam Topley’s spectacular strike put Rangers ahead on 75 minutes.

However, few could have scripted the drama of the last 15 minutes of action.

First, Dan Thompson turned home Ricky Gabriel’s cross with four minutes remaining and, in a lengthy spell of time added on by referee Will Finnie at the end, Allen drilled in the winner a full eight-and-a-half minutes after the allotted 90.

It gave Braintree the three points they craved and while they weren’t enough to lift them back into the play-off spots, they are now just two points off the top seven ahead of a busy run-in to the end of the campaign.

There was just one change for the Iron from the side that had started the 1-0 win at Hungerford Town seven days before, with Marcel Barrington returning and Roman Michael-Percil moving to the bench.

It was an encouraging start from Braintree as they looked to move the ball swiftly and a neat break down the left saw them threaten in the first minute as Gabriel’s cross had to be cut out by Rangers keeper Louis Wells.

However, the hosts were unable to pierce Concord’s well-organised back line to really pose a consistent danger in the visitors’ 18-yard box.

That allowed Concord to edge their own way into the game and there was little between the two Essex rivals in the opening stages.

Braintree looked most effective when they were able to get the ball on the floor and move it forward with pace but the closest they came in the opening part of the game was from a set piece.

A free-kick on the left, after a foul on Allen that earned Andy Freeman a 21st minute yellow card fell to Barrington on the edge of the box and he drilled a rising shot that went just over the bar.

That was soon followed by a chance for Thompson as he latched on to Gabriel’s teasing cross to the near post but diverted his header wide of the target.

The game started to open up and it was Concord who had the next sight of goal on 24 minutes.

Former Colchester United man Femi Akinwande, who had been an early substitute for Khale Da Costa, curled in a cross from the right that dipped over the dive of Nathan McDonald and clattered off the top of the crossbar and away to safety.

It was a warning shot for the Iron but not one that Rangers were able to follow up on with sustained pressure.

Instead, the greater threat remained at the other end of the pitch, but Wells wasn’t really tested.

That situation was typified in the 37th minute when a strong run by Jon Muleba ended with a good cross into the middle but Thompson glanced his header wide of the target again.

Thompson then ended the half by steering a shot into the side netting, but only after a good chance had come Concord’s way when Steve Hawley raced on to a ball over the top of the Braintree defence and McDonald did well to keep out the fierce low drive from the Rangers striker.

It meant the first half ended goalless and both sides looking for a greater cutting edge in the final third of the pitch at the start of the second 45 minutes.

It was the home side who were the more threatening in the opening exchanges after having made a change at half-time with Michael-Percil replacing Muleba.

Thompson went agonisingly close on 53 minutes when his fired a shot inches wide from Gabriel’s lovely ball into the middle and a smart interchange between Diaz Wright, Wyatt and Allen forced some scrambled defending in the Rangers’ area.

The visitors continued to frustrate Braintree with some disciplined defensive play and although the Iron dominated possession and territorial advantage, they were unable to unlock a resolute Rangers back line.

At times, the game resembled an attack versus defence training session but Concord did still hold a threat on the break that the hosts had to be wary of.

However, they weren’t wary enough on 75 minutes as Rangers took the lead in spectacular fashion.

The ball came to Adam Topley about 30 yards out and with the Iron defence standing off him, he had the space and time to unleash a drive that flew past McDonald and nestled into the back of the net.

It was a sucker-punch goal for the hosts to concede and they tried to respond, but once again hit the blue wall put up in front of them.

Josh Hill was denied as his header from a long free-kick was somehow kept out by Wells from close range but the Rangers defence was finally pierced with just four minutes remaining.

Gabriel fired the ball low into the middle and after it wasn’t claimed by Wells, Thompson was in the perfect place to flick it into the goal from close range to set up a tense finale.

Play was frantic in added minutes at the end of the match, with McDonald saving well to deny Akinwande and the Iron pressing desperately for a winner.

It finally came with eight and a half minutes gone past the 90 with almost the last kick of the game.

Wright fired a ball long into the Concord box that Marc-Anthony Okoye pulled down and Allen drilled low past Wells and into the back of the net for a dramatic finish and an invaluable three points.

Braintree Town: Nathan McDonald, Jon Muleba (Roman Michael-Percil 45), Ricky Gabriel, Josh Hill, Mark-Anthony Okoye, Diaz Wright, Luke allen, Christian Frimpong, Marcel Barrington (Reece Grant 71), Dan Thompson, Ben Wyatt.

Subs not used: Jack Curtis, Mahrez Bettache, Harry Aldridge.

Referee: Will Finnie.