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Borough returned to Essex following Braintree’s defeat of ‘The Sports’ the previous Saturday, ‘The Iron’ therefore claiming the final play-off spot. The visitors had rested some players that day and with suspensions ending Garry Wilson & Nick Greenwood had a fully fit squad to pick from. This saw Paul Armstrong, Darren Baker, Andy Atkin and Paul Armstrong return to the starting 11.
Despite this increase in availability the home side dominated the opening 20 minutes; no doubt buoyed by the home crowd and recent home victory. Ryan Moran was guilty of wasting 3 chances in the opening 15 minutes before Boro’s 1st real chance, a misdirected header for Allan Tait from a Ben Austin cross. Lee Hook made the 1st of several fabulous saves on 18 minutes before the vistors began to get a hold of the opposition. The initial evidence was a series of passes that allowed Pat Harding to deliver a dangerous cross into the 18 yard box and a Matt Crabb long range effort that bounced cruelly; Nicky Morgan parrying the effort away for a corner. Allan Tait was beginning to warm to the task on a wet evening and on the half-hour his excellent control and 22 yard shot was deflected low past Morgan for 1-0 Boro; on balance against the run of play.
Chris Sullivan was lively, and his shot from wide on 35 minutes required Hook to parry the shot high and over his head before Austin hooked the ball off the line. Tait almost doubled the lead on 37 minutes but his close range effort was saved; the half-time score remained 1-0 Boro.
The 2nd 45 minutes belonged firmly to ‘The Sports’. Tait saw an effort blocked immediately after the restart and Austin delivered several excellent right-wing deliveries as the home side struggled to contain his surging runs; Atkin heading against the upright on 56 minutes, Darren Budd firing the rebound over the bar. Armstrong was also to be denied by the woodwork as a long range effort cannoned off the home bar. On 65 minutes Tait would grab his 2nd of the evening as the ball dropped over the centre-back Morgan hesitated and was lost; the No. 10 beat the keeper to the ball and poked it home for 1-0.
Tait had a further effort saved by Morgan before Neil Jenkins was required to calmly run the ball off the line as Hook was beaten for the 1st time by Louis Riddle. On 80 minutes the game was up for the hosts as Brad Quinton was shown his 2nd yellow of the evening reducing his side to 10 men. Nathan Crabb supplied a fine cross for Atkin to head wide before ‘Hooky’ made his last of several excellent saves in stoppage time to deny Riddle and there was still time for Atkin to fire a shot high over the bar from close range as Matt Smart flicked on but today it was the visitors making their way home in jubilant mood.
Boro certainly has opportunities to extend their lead but equally Braintree will look at a period of domination where chances went begging and several fantastic saves from Hook that maintained the clean sheet. No one at Priory Lane will believe the tie is dead and will need to be at their best to progress through to Stevenage. That said it was a most satisfying evening on the road and a welcome returning to winning ways.
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