BRAINTREE TOWN 3 GLOUCESTER CITY 0

Vanarama National League South

Braintree Town ensured they would extend their season beyond the basic 42 games with a 3-0 win against Gloucester City on the final day of the regular Vanarama National League South season.

The Iron knew they had to at least match the result obtained by St Albans City at Bath City on the final day of the campaign to be assured of a place in the play-offs.

However, they knew that three points for themselves would make anything happening elsewhere academic to their own prospects so went looking for the three points against a Gloucester side who knew they would finish in mid-table regardless of their final result.

After a goalless and, at times, nervy first half, the Iron came good after the break and they took control of their destiny with a 50th minute headed goal from Reece Grant, before a wonderful Josh Hill strike made the points safe.

Grant then followed that with a stoppage-time third and with it came the Iron’s place in the play-offs as they ended the campaign sat sixth in the National League South standings.

There was just one change for the Iron from the side that was held to a goalless draw by Oxford City on Tuesday.

That saw a return for Reece Grant to the starting line-up, with Roman Michael-Percil dropping to the bench.

The hosts knew the pressure to get a result was on them and it was a nervy start by them that allowed Gloucester to get out of the blocks quicker and the early play was mostly in the Iron half of the pitch.

The visitors pressed and went close on four minutes when Ed Williams curled a snap shot from outside the box that Braintree keeper Nathan McDonald had to claw out of the air underneath his crossbar.

The Iron’s forward play was restricted in the opening minutes as moves tended to break down in midfield before they could be a threat to the Gloucester goal and too many passes were hesitant and across the pitch rather than in an incisive direction.

The one time they did get through, Dan Thompson was flagged offside after taking the ball down skilfully and hitting the post with his shot.

The Iron did find a decisive edge on 23 minutes, though, when a neat move involving Grant and Billy Crook on the edge of the Gloucester area saw the ball worked to Luke Allen, but his shot rose over the bar without troubling City keeper Andy Hannah.

Braintree did start to press higher up the pitch as the half wore on and were desperately unlucky not to take the lead on 31 minutes.

It came when Diaz Wright strode out of midfield and played a lovely ball into the run of Grant, who dinked it on towards goal only to see the ball clip the inside of the post before being scrambled away.

From the resulting corner, Dan Thompson’s header was gratefully clutched by Hannah as the danger passed.

As unfortunate as that was for them, though, the Iron then had a stroke of good fortune themselves at the other end of the pitch just a minute later.

A flowing move by Gloucester ended with Williams firing a low cross into the centre and slammed home by Joe Parker who wheeled away in delight but celebrations were cut short for another offside flag.

It was Braintree who finished the half looking the more likely to score, though, and while they were unable to force the breakthrough before the interval, they didn’t have to wait long afterwards for it to come.

Having made a bright start to the second half, they went ahead on 50 minutes when a looping ball across the middle by Ricky Gabriel was headed back into the centre by Thompson to where Grant was poised to bundle the ball in from close range.

It was the breakthrough the Iron required and the confidence gained from getting their noses in front was evident as the main threat stayed towards the Gloucester goal.

Clear cut opportunities remained at a premium, though, as Gloucester remained stubbornly difficult to break down.

That was typified by a 76th minute move down the Iron left that saw a cross met by Mahrez Bettache only for Keiran Parselle to make a strong block to get the ball away.

From resulting corner, though, the ball fell to Josh Hill about five yards outside the area and he curled it first time past Hannah’s dive and into the top corner for a beautifully-taken second goal.

With the centre-half’s strike doubling the advantage, the Braintree fans among the crowd of 616 were able to start to relax a bit more.

That sense of comfort was enhanced in time added-on as a through ball set Grant free and he showed a striker’s instinct in tucking the ball past Hannah to sew up the result and the Iron’s place in the play-offs.

With Braintree’s win and results elsewhere, the Iron finished sixth in the table and will head to Hemel Hempstead Town, who finished fifth, in the opening play-off game on Wednesday.

Braintree Town: Nathan McDonald, Jon Muleba (Christian Frimpong 86), Ricky Gabriel, Josh Hill, Mark-Anthony Okoye, Diaz Wright, Luke Allen (Mahrez Bettache 70), Billy Crook, Dan Thompson, Reece Grant, Ben Wyatt (Roman Michael-Percil 84).

Subs not used: Marcel Barrington, Harry Aldridge.

Referee: Jack Packham.