BROMLEY 2 BRAINTREE TOWN 4

Vanarama National League

The resurgence of Braintree Town continued as they backed up their first home win of the Vanarama National League season by recording maiden back-to-back victories with a 4-2 triumph at Bromley.

Hakan Hayrettin did his chances of being elevated from his position as caretaker manager into a full-time spot no harm whatsoever as the team made it seven points from a possible nine under his stewardship.

A brace of goals by a full-of-confidence Reece Grant and strikes by Virgil Gomis and Lyle Della-Verde gave Braintree another welcome lift as they continued their bid to get clear of the National League’s drop zone.

Hayrettin kept faith with the same group of players who had claimed the club’s first home league win of the season on Saturday and stayed with the same starting line-up from that 2-1 win against Dover Athletic.

That saw Ashlee Jones remaining in goal as Ben Killip hadn’t recovered from an ankle knock and the confident way the team ended that earlier fixture was carried on at Hayes Lane.

Just six minutes were on the clock when Cameron James played a ball forward that Nottingham Forest loanee Virgil Gomis was able to demonstrate his lightning pace to chase.

The pacey striker beat Bromley keeper David Gregory in the race to the ball and lifted it past him into the back of the net to stun the home crowd.

It certainly wasn’t the start the home supporters were looking for and they demanded more from their side.

They had already seen the hosts hit the crossbar as a header from a corner rattled the Iron woodwork but only had to wait 12 minutes until the equalising goal came.

It arrived when Joe Quigley slotted the ball into the net on his Bromley debut after a break down the right allowed the hosts to get in behind the Iron defence.

In truth, it was poor defending from the visitors as, having allowed Bromley to get in too easily, a low ball across the six yard box was not dealt with by the Braintree back line and Quigley drilled the ball in.

With the teams back on level terms, the game settled down a bit, but Braintree started pressing again and got their reward just before the half-hour mark with a second goal.

It came when the ball was sent into the Bromley box low from the right after good work by Justin Amaluzor and Jon Muleba and came to Grant, who had time to pivot and drill the ball into the net from close range.

It was great composure from a striker who is clearly feeling very confident at the moment and the Iron’s lead was not undeserved.

And they were somehow not further ahead on 40 minutes after a corner played in from the right was headed back across goal by Joe Ellul and Grant only had to make contact to knock it in.

However, he swung at clear air and the chance passed with the Iron just having to settle for the one-goal lead at half-time.

It was a situation that didn’t last long after the restart though, as Braintree went further ahead in spectacular fashion on 48 minutes thanks to an excellent strike from Lyle Della-Verde.

Having received the ball midway into the Bromley half, he held off a challenge that he may well have been tempted to go down under to win a free-kick, but instead showed strength in advancing to the edge of the area and curled a wonderful shot past Gregory in the home goal.

The Iron now had a buffer to defend and they looked full of confidence, but a substitution paid dividends for the hosts on 58 minutes.

Having only just replaced Colchester United loanee Junior Ogedi-Uzokwe, Omar Bugiel marked his introduction to the game with a goal for Bromley.

The substitute picked up the ball wide on the left and curled it in from outside the box with Jones just unable to scramble across to get to the shot.

Suddenly the hosts’ tails were up again and from looking a beaten side, they began to dominate possession and push Braintree back, while the Iron, in contrast, were scrappy and struggled to get a hold of the ball.

Chances came for Bromley, with Bugiel drilling the ball just wide, a shot by Frankie Sutherland was deflected past the post and Jones held on to a fierce effort by Adam Mekki.

However, they were unable to turn the pressure into goals and, having ridden the storm, Braintree began to settle once again and saw more of the play switch to the Bromley half of the pitch.

And on 84 minutes, they went two clear again.

Braintree’s pressing was rewarded when a ball into the middle wasn't dealt with by the home defence and Grant turned it in from close range for his second of the night.

It helped calm the nerves of the visiting supporters and allowed Braintree to take the sting out of the game as they brought home a very welcome three-point haul.

Braintree Town: Ashlee Jones, Jon Muleba, Joe Ellul, Kodi Lyons-Foster, Ricky Gabriel, Mo Sagaf, Lyle Della-Verde, Justin Amaluzor (Christie Pattison 62), Cameron James (Henry Ochieng 82), Reece Grant, Virgil Gomis (Jake Cass 77).

Subs not used: Pat Webber, Luke Allen.

Referee: Gary Parsons.