BRAINTREE TOWN 1

EASTLEIGH 2

Vanarama National League

It was a valliant effort from Braintree Town but the Iron fell just short again as their Vanarama National League frustrations continued against Eastleigh.

The Iron tried to get back into the game in the second half and had Mohamed Bettamer on target, but they paid the price on two counts.

Not only were they unable to make more of chances that came their way, they were also caught out twice at the back before the break and that proved too steep a mountain to climb at the end.

The big team news for the Iron at the start was that new signing Jake Cass came straight into the starting line-up after his midweek move from Bishop’s Stortford.

His introduction was one of three changes for the Iron from the side that started the 3-0 defeat at AFC Fylde the week before.

Kodi Lyons-Foster and Dan Thompson were the other changes as they returned to the starting side, while those coming out were Dave Nieskens, who left the club this week, Danny Rowe, who was not involved, and Christie Pattison, who dropped to the bench.

The Iron knew they needed a good start after the loss at Fylde, but Eastleigh put them under pressure in the first few minutes.

They were unable to trouble Ben Killip in the home goal though and that allowed the Iron to step it up and get forward themselves.

They had a great chance on five minutes when Luke Allen picked the ball up 30 yards out and let fly with a great effort that was dipping in but Eastleigh keeper Max Stryjek tipped it away with a magnificent save.

Then ten minutes later, nice movement of the ball down the left saw Ricky Gabriel get it forward to Mohamed Bettamer, who crossed to where Dan Thompson hooked the ball over the bar.

It was looking encouraging for the home side, but they were soon behind as just a minute more had passed when Braintree had their pockets picked.

The opening goal came when the ball was flung into the box from the right and was headed back into the danger area to where Paul McCallum was poised to slam it into the back of the net.

It was a blow for the Iron and a real test of their mettle, but their response was excellent as they crafted some excellent chances to get level.

On 25 minutes, the home fans were left wondering how on earth their team were not level from a free-kick awarded on the edge of the Eastleigh box after Cass had been felled.

Mo Bettamer hit a low thunderbolt that Max Stryjek knew very little about, however, the Eastleigh keeper somehow got something on it and the ball skidded off him on to the crossbar and away.

It was typical of Braintree’s recent luck and they went close again three minutes later.

A lovely break from Braintree from their own area saw Mo Sagaf race forward before laying off a delightful ball into the path of Cass, who pushed it on and tried to curl it past Stryjek but it flew just wide of the target.

Once again, the Iron had been unable to make the most of chances created and they were caught out at the back again before half-time.

It was another sucker punch and was delivered on 37 minutes when a lovely through ball by former Colchester United player Mark Yeate sets Chris Zebroski free through the middle.

Although Lyons-Foster got back with a sliding challenge and Killip drove him wide, the Eastleigh man made no mistake in slotting home to make it 2-0 to the visitors at half-time.

It was a depressingly similar story to recent ones where chances hadn’t been taken at one end and the Iron were hit as their opponents took theirs.

It all meant Braintree were chasing the game after the break, but in testing conditions, it proved tough to put the Eastleigh defence under any sustained pressure.

The constant rain did not help as the game became scrappy and started to drift, but Braintree earned themselves a lifeline on 72 minutes.

It came from a sublime turn in the Eastleigh area by Luke Allen that saw him leave his marker cold before looping a wonderful ball into the middle that Bettamer headed in from close range.

It was suddenly game on and, with the Iron pressing, it should have been 2-2 on 80 minutes.

Lyle Della-Verde did brilliantly to cut inside and drill in a shot that Stryjek parried into the path of Cass.

Unfortunately for the Iron man, though, it came at him too quickly and cannoned off him with a grateful Stryjek able to claim at the second time of asking.

Braintree threw everything they had at Eastleigh but it was to no avail as the visitors held on to their slender lead and the Iron were forced once again to reflect on coming down on the wrong side a the fine line between success and failure.

Braintree Town: Ben Killip, Cameron James (Reece Grant 84), Jon Muleba, Joe Ellul, Kodi Lyons-Foster, Ricky Gabriel, Mo Sagaf, Luke Allen, Mohamed Bettamer, Dan Thompson (Lyle Della-Verde 52), Jake Cass.

Substitutes not used: Pat Webber, Christie Pattison, Christian Frimpong.

Referee: Alan Dale.