Ben Barrett (Page 13)

A second half sucker punch from Sahid Kamara gave the hosts all three points, against a Glovers side who had plenty of huff and puff, but could not find a telling touch to claim anything out of an important fixture.

The Glovers lacked the killer instinct despite more shots on target, more possession, more corners. The away fans went home empty handed. 

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First half

The Glovers had the better of the earliest exchanges, James Plant getting involved nice and early on his return on loan. With four minutes on the clock, it was Plant who drove forward and delivered, his eventual cross found it right through to the right hand side, where Josh Sims forced an early corner.

Brett McGavin’s corner came to little, but the Glovers certainly in the early ascendancy. 

Tahvon Campbell was next to drive forward, and with no more than five minutes on the clock, his attack fell to the path of Josh Sims who’s effort hit the bar. 

Campbell was certainly involved on plenty of occasions, in the opening exchanges, not one, but two further corners came as a result of his driving runs, combining well with Plant once more. 

Plant had chances to strike at goal, but the Braintree defence were there to force the block. 

It took the best part of 10 minutes for the Iron to really get their first chance, a long throw on the right aimed at the head of John Akinde who had taken up a spot on the toes of Jed Ward.

Fletcher Hubbard forced a free kick in a dangerous area, he stood over the ball, but put his set piece into outer space.

The Glovers were fairly happy in possession, without breaking through the Braintree back line and were susceptible to a break away, Hubbard played a delightful ball into the box, Lewis Walker missing his cue – the best chance of the game by far.

At the other end, Josh Sims saw not one but two shots charged down, before the hosts could clear their lines.

A 20th minute corner gave McGavin the chance to put the ball back into the box as Yeovil continued their early dominance, but not for the first time, a good opportunity came to nothing.

With quarter of the game gone, Yeovil will be more than happy with the way they’ve controlled possession, but Braintree arguably had the better chances, John Akinde skipping past Kyle Ferguson, a blocked shot from Elliott Thorpe was followed by another sent high and wide.

The visitors were happy to keep the ball, and as the half developed there was a sense of going through the motions, the sides exchanged free kicks, but neither side could produce that little moment of quality.

On 35 minutes, a McGavin out swinger went harmlessly wide with Jake Wannell unable to get any real purchase on the ball.

Braintree were able to get their game going shortly after, Hubbert and Walker combining well, the latter unable to make the most of another fizzing ball into the danger area from the former. 

With five minutes until the break, Finn Cousin-Dawson found himself in the referee’s notebook after a mistimed control led him towards a rough challenge on Manny Miranda.

The resulting free kick saw Walker put the ball into a dangerous area, but Jed Ward was there to claim.

Ward got the game going quickly and within the blink of an eye, Josh Sims and Bryon Pendleton bringing good saves out of the home ‘keeper Mason Terry.

The final few minutes saw Cousin-Dawson go in hard on Akinde in a dangerous area – already on a booking, he may have been lucky to not get anything more than a word.

The hosts were most certainly finishing the half better; Hubbard causing trouble down the left, James Vennings regularly involved with everything revolving around Akinde in attack.

Yeovil ending the half up in terms of possession stats, but both sides might feel they had the chances to be in front at the break.

Half time: Braintree Town 0 Yeovil Town 0

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Second half

The second half got underway with no changes for either side, Yeovil picking up where they left off, on the ball looking to dictate the play.

Aaron Jarvis started the half well, with chances to bring the ball down and play others in around him, the final ball not quite clicking to turn a decent opportunity into a clear chance at goal.

Could Yeovil force that chance? Byron Pendleton put a glorious ball through the corridor of uncertainty in the box, no-one able to connect and provide the telling touch. 

Marley Miranda provided the hosts with their first shot on target of the game, a nice Cruyff turn created him some space, with Ward there to turn the ball round the post.

But, the Glovers were back on the break not long after; Sims and Pendleton teaming up well, but the final ball to Jarvis ended up falling to no-one.

The Spaniard, Miranda was going through the gears in the opening 10 minutes, a 20-yard effort sailing just over the bar.

Quite how this game was still 0-0 is anyone’s guess. No sooner had the dust settled on that Braintree chance, the Glovers were up the other end creating a moment.

Aaron Jarvis forcing a corner, but, the pressure eased when a referee whistle spotted a foul from the resulting set piece.

FC-D was taken off for Luke McCormick with Junior Morias coming in for Tahvon Campbell just before the hour mark.

Lewis Walker would force a save out of Ward as the hosts continued to get a foot hold in the game.

The addition of Morias was proving to be a positive one, on a number of occasions, he showed for the ball and started an attack, he forced a corner with an effort on goal.

That corner was, much like the previous one, brought to a halt by the referee. 

More changes for the Glovers, Greenslade and Wodskou coming on for Jarvis and Sims as the Glovers rolled their final attacking dice.

20 minutes for those changes to make an impact, Kyle Smith and Junior Morias both found themselves in the ref’s notebook, which seemed to put a spark in the Yeovil man.

He travelled with the ball deep into the Braintree half before unleashing a shot, narrowly off target.

This was quickly becoming a one-chance game, both side knowing that one moment of quality, or one error by enough.

Junior Morias was close to providing that moment, his ball to Wodskou was perfect, but the Birmingham loanee couldn’t hit the target from just outside the box.

Greenslade had a shot, but much like those that had gone before, just not able to nestle in the far corner.

Then, if you’ve read the script, you can probably understand what happens next.

Braintree take the lead through substitute Sahid KAMARA, he found room in the box, brought the ball down well, and made no mistake. The Glovers hadn’t taken any of their chances, the hosts found a way to find one of theirs. 

The hosts now had the bit between their teeth, an Akinde shot was well saved by Ward.

Braintree were, unerstandably, slowing the game down, but were still trying to make things happen, Hubbard had a shot blocked and Vennings and Walker were still able to move the ball around quickly.

Miranda had a pair of shots saved by Ward, the midfielder given way too much space in dangerous areas. 

A breakaway from Plant gave the Glovers the chance to ease the pressure, scythed down by Miranda, who went into the book, gave the chance to put the ball into the box.

McGavin’s free kick fell to Ferguson who’s header was calmly claimed by the home stopper.

With the clock ticking towards the 90, Braintree were able to play the game at their pace, getting the free kicks, earning the corners and not being afraid to keep the ball in the corner. 

Six minutes added, as Braintree made more changed including bringing on the vastly experienced Alan Judge.

Yeovil had more huff and puff in their side, but there lacked forward options to play the ball towards. 

Byron Pendleton continued to try and force something down the right hand side, with Braintree trying to sit a little deeper.

Pendleton and Greenslade teamed up well into the final third and only Greenslade will know how his chance could only be poked towards the goalkeeper rather than either side. 

McGavin saw a free kick tipped round the post by Terry, back to back corners followed, another save from Wannell, another block prevent the Glovers from finding an equaliser.

But, that cutting edge would be lacking from the visitors, left to rue an away day where the Glovers did everything but score.

Substitutes:  Matt Gould, Ben Wodskou (for Jarvis ’64), Luke McCormick (for Cousin-Dawson ’60) Harvey Greenslade (for Sims ’64), Alex Whittle, Junior Morias (for Campbell ’60)

Braintree Town: Mason Terry, Aidan Francis-Clarke, George Langston (c), Tommy Smith, Kyle Smith, Marley Miranda, James Vennings, Lewis Walker, Fletcher Hubbard, Elliot Thorpe, John Akinde

Substitutes (not used): Manny Omrore, Alan Judge (for Miranda ’91), Chay Cooper, (for Akinde ’82) Goran Babic, Jacob Pinnington, Sahid Kamara (for Thorpe ’71), Freddie Hockey (for Hubbard ’91)