BRAINTREE TOWN 0 AFC TELFORD UNITED 2

Vanarama Conference Premier

It may have been a bumper crowd for Braintree Town, but AFC Telford failed to read the home script as they kept their Vanarama Conference Premier survival hopes alive with a win.

A crowd of 2,115 came through the Miles Smith Stadium turnstiles after Braintree offered free entry to the game.

It was the highest turnout for a league game at Braintree this season and possibly for many years, but the hosts were unable to reward them with a victory.

Braintree were looking to build on a three-game unbeaten run and their 5-1 win at Torquay in their previous outing.

But instead, it was Telford, who arrived sitting rock bottom of the league, who rose to the occasion and took an invaluable three points.

Braintree lined up with just one change from the side that had hammered Torquay United 5-1 in the Iron’s previous outing.

It was the hat-trick hero from that game, Dan Sparkes, who dropped out through illness, with Simeon Akinola coming back into the starting line-up.

Braintree had all the early possession but were unable to really puncture the Bucks’ defensive line, with Sean Marks’ 13th minute effort from the edge of the box being the only shot on target.

It was easily taken by Telford keeper James Montgomery, though, and the Bucks gradually came into the match in an attacking capacity.

They forced a couple of corners and from one of these a block on by Remy Clerima was needed to keep out Ian Sharps’ header.

The play became a bit scrappy for both sides but there was a sight of goal for the visitors in the 24th minute when Tony Gray slipped a lovely ball through to Bradley Reid that opened up the Braintree defence, but Reid dragged his shot wide of the target.

The game was crying out for a goal and within the space of two minutes it almost got two.

In the 38th minute, a ball forward was controlled well by Marks, who broke clear of the last Telford defender and unleashed a great shot that flew just wide.

However, having survived that scare, the Bucks went up the other end and nearly open the scoring themselves.

The ball fell nicely to Reid and after he let rip from 20 yards, it took a good save from Nick Hamann to his left to keep the shot out and make sure it stayed 0-0 at the break.

Braintree made a decent start after half-time, but there was still no penetration to break down a resilient Bucks defence and it was the visitors who made the breakthrough at the other end.

Having seen Hamann do well to keep out a shot from Reid in the 59th minute, Sean Clancy was bundled over in the area as he went for the loose ball and referee Mark Pottage pointed straight to the penalty spot.

Tony Gray stepped forward to do the honours and gave Hamann no chance as Telford took the lead.

And it was soon 2-0.

As the hosts went looking for an equaliser, a ball split open their defence and Danny Ventre strode through the gap and slotted the ball into the bottom corner to double Telford’s advantage.

Braintree upped the pace as they went looking for a way back into the game and Akinola was inches away from scoring as he flicked on Isaac’s free-kick and Kenny Davis’ low drilled effort was wide of the mark.

As the clock ticked down, the Iron huffed and puffed, but the Bucks’ defence that had been so resolute throughout the match, stood firm until the final whistle.

Braintree: Nick Hamann, Mitch Brundle, Remy Clerima, Chez Isaac, Sam Habergham, Alan Massey, Matt Paine (Jordan Cox 73), Kenny Davis, Simeon Akinola, Bernard Mensah, Sean Marks.

Subs not used: Joe Maybanks, Ryan Peters, James Mulley, Carl Pentney.

Referes: Mark Pottage.