2 weeks Ago
BRAINTREE Town slipped to a disappointing 2-1 defeat at Woking, writes DAVID WARD. The Iron are now six points above the National League relegation zone but they can to a certain degree feel unjustified that they didn't return home from Kingfield with at least a point, following a tremendous final 20 minutes in which they pummelled and overwhelmed a struggling home rearguard. They had a series of late corners that twice saw the ball kicked off the line and were then denied a blatant handball, all culminating in a most bizarre and wrong decision against them by referee Wayne Cartmel in the dying minutes.
The 149 Iron fans in the 2,102 crowd will be the first to admit that their side didn't play anywhere near as well as they had done in their last two league wins and overall were disappointing in several aspects. (Image: JON WEAVER) In the first half the Iron had no midfield at all whilst the usual reliable back line were often at sixes and sevens. It was perhaps unsurprising because behind them in goal was late stand-in young Charlton Athletic keeper Lennon MacLorg, deputising for Henry Grey who was forced out due to the concussion he sustained in the York City game.
Sadly, the young MacLorg was at fault for Woking's opener when he rushed out and brought down a home forward on 24 minutes to concede an unnecessary penalty which was converted. This naturally gave the home side the early initiative as they played with more confidence and cohesion, both of which the Iron lacked in these early stages. (Image: JON WEAVER) Braintree manager Steve Pitt made a double half-time substitution, bringing on the experienced Alan Judge and Jermaine Francis.
It certainly paid off as they Iron looked more organised in midfield and penetrated the home defence, despite handing Woking a gift of a second goal on 48 minutes. Again it was uncertainty in the Iron defence from a left-wing free-kick which the defenders left and young MacLorg failed to come and collect. What looked a further uphill battle for the Iron then gain some good response with another double substitution that saw Tom Blackwell and Emmanuel Okunowo introduced.
It gave the whole side a lift and from then onwards, they really took charge of the game. Braintree pulled a goal back on 70 minutes when Aiden Francis-Clarke stooped low at the far post to head home. (Image: JON WEAVER) Several further chances for an equaliser when begging, notably on 82 minutes when somehow John Akinde unmarked at the far post put his header inches the wrong side of the upright, while constant scrambling in the home penalty failed to secure the at this stage expected equaliser.
The culmination of the frustration in the dying minutes - it has to be said for both sides too - came from referee Cartmel. He stopped play out on the right wing with the Iron in possession, due to a Woking defender being injured in the area. Instead of restarting the game with the ball for the Iron who were entitled to it, he demanded it was returned to him where he promptly then presented it to the Woking keeper to kick it out and upfield from his penalty area.
Even the home fans sounded their disapproval of this bizarre act, let along the confused and angry Iron bench! But despite all the controversy and that late pressure, Braintree know they will have to certainly up their game for the visit of Sutton United in the National League Cup semi-final on Tuesday, kick-off 7.45pm before the real test on Saturday when champions-elect Barnet are the visitors..
