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Boro’s last home defeat was on the final day of the 2006/2007 season after a marathon run pursuing a play-off berth; the visitors Braintree Town. The club welcomed Neil Jenkins back into the squad hoping to bring the current excellent away form back to a Priory Lane crowd, still increasing in numbers.
The Sports have been scoring some late goals of in recent fixtures; 3 in injury time at Basingstoke and a 2nd away at Bognor just before the final whistle. Today the club came out of the traps fast and opened the scoring inside the 1st minute. A right-wing throw-in dropped to Andy Atkin in the penalty area. He played the ball back to Matt Crabb waiting on the edge; his 1st time effort low to Nick Morgan’s right. The tall keeper looked to have gathered but the ball slipped through his arms and into the bottom corner for 1-0 Boro. Boro almost repeated the feat on 5 minutes, this time Pat Harding’s throw fed back to Matt Smart bursting into the 18 yard box. His stabbed shot was across the goal; inches wide of the left-hand post.
On 9 minutes Braintree managed to advance into the Boro penalty area. They worked the ball really well on the half-way line and eventually set the excellent Billy Burgess away, his near post cross was defended for a corner. Braintree continued their period of pressure, Darren Baker bravely blocking a ferocious drive from new signing Micky Shinn. The homes side responded on 19 minutes. Crabb played a fantastic 1st time pass to Scott Ramsay; the Boro No.9’s excellent strike hitting the inside of the left-hand post and out for a goal kick.
Boro were really on top with half-chances for Crabb, Harding and Ramsay, the latter drawing an instinctive save from Morgan on 30 minutes, and a minute later Atkins strength fought off the centre-back by the bye-line. He rounded the keeper only for Morgan to grab the shot at the big strikers feet. On 37 minutes Ramsay was fouled on the edge of the box. Armstrong and Crabb stood over the ball but the captains low drive into the bottom right-hand corner left the keeper and wall no chance for 2-0.
The 2nd half lacked the intensity of the 1st. Braintree made 2 half-time substitutions but the heat and the 2 goal advantage appeared to drain their fighting spirit as Boro absorbed the pressure and played on the break. Crabb was having a fantastic time wide left and the 2nd half saw him deliver several wonderful crosses or cut inside to test the keeper. Ramsay nearly got his name on the score-sheet when he headed over a deep free-kick on 70 minutes and The Iron almost pulled a goal back when a right-wing corner was headed against the bar on 78 minutes.
The game was played at a more leisurely pace for the final 10 as both sides tired. In truth the early goal probably upset Braintree’s game plan but Boro again created multiple chances whilst the defence restricted visitors to only 2 attempts on target
Match Details - Webmaster.
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