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Iron left with mountain to climb
We won't give in.
Defiant Braintree Town boss Lee Patterson refused to write off his team's chances of reaching next week's play-off final, despite a semi-final first-leg home defeat against Eastbourne Borough.
The Iron will have to overturn a two-goal deficit on the south coast on Saturday, after losing 2-0 at a rain-sodden Cressing Road.
And their misery was compounded when skipper Bradley Quinton was shown a red card after picking up a second booking late on.
However, Patterson believes the semi-final is not finished yet.
He said: "I've never been knocked out of any cup competition at half-time.
"We've noted the reaction of their players and the tie's not over yet - we have to stay positive.
"But we were disappointed with both of the goals and I felt both of them could have been avoided."
Torrential rain made the surface resemble an ice rink at times, making it difficult for the players.
However, that did not seem to detract from the entertainment.
Ryan Moran almost justified Patterson's decision to employ him as a makeshift striker with a goal in the opening two minutes, but headed Bradley Quinton's free-kick just over.
And Braintree's lively start continued minutes later when Moran's effort from Chris Sullivan's cross was deflected agonisingly wide.
Indeed, Sullivan was Iron's most dangerous customer in the opening 45 minutes and went close himself midway through the half with a shot that flashed narrowly past the post.
But goalkeeper Nicky Morgan had made an eye-catching save to foil Matt Crabb's long-range effort.
And just after the half hour mark, Boro' struck the first blow in the semi-final with Allan Tait's 25-yard effort taking a wicked deflection off Ben Chenery before flying in.
Ben Austin acrobatically hooked Sullivan's deflected effort off the line before the break.
And half-time, Sullivan shot wide from close range after Adrian Deane had cleverly dummied Quinton's pass.
But Eastbourne then struck the woodwork twice in the space of three minutes.
First Andy Atkin headed Austin's cross against the foot of the post and then Paul Armstrong left the crossbar shaking with a dipping effort.
But Braintree were still very much in the tie.
Sullivan again shot wide of the target, before Iron had a penalty shout rejected when Micky Shinn's free-kick appeared to be handled in the area by a Boro' defender.
But Iron were still recovering from that disappointment when they were dealt a further blow with 23 minutes remaining.
The Braintree defence was caught square as Tait beat Morgan to the loose ball and decisively prodded into the empty net to give Eastbourne the upper hand.
Quinton was denied by Hooks reflex save and Sullivan prodded agonisingly across goal after being served by Mark Jones.
But Morgan had to be at his best to prevent Atkin from making it 3-0.
And Braintree's misery was compounded when skipper Quinton was harshly shown a second yellow card for a foul on Armstrong and sent off, with nine minutes to go.
7:47am Wednesday 30th April 2008
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