CLASSY IRON UP TO HALFWAY Comprehensive display sees - Wrexham well beaten at the Amlin Iron continued their unbeaten run with three points and three goals in another great home display that has kept the Braintree train rolling up the division since returning from a long layoff over the winter. Marks, Holman and Jukubiak were on the score sheet at the Amlin, which will please manager Alan Devonshire who has expressed a need for squad rotation as the Iron take on a congested fixture list. The win has seen Braintree go above Wrexham in the table, still with six games in hand over 5th placed Barnet, and now just eight points behind. Braintree flew out of the traps from the kick off when Sean Marks cushioned a long ball forward with his chest to Dan Holman. The pace from the resulting shot was removed with a heavy deflection, which meant the ball trickled out for a corner. Minutes later, Josh Laurent picked up the ball on the right hand side, and managed to find Bernard Mensah unmarked in the box. Mensah had all the time in the world with his effort, striking first time, but could not find the target. His effort flew wide; a good chance for the Iron to put themselves ahead missed. Wrexham began to find their feet after the scare, with Tomassen delivering some inviting balls in from the wing. However, the Braintree defence dealt well with the crosses. Dean Wells and Nick Hamann were spared their blushes when Hamann was sent scrambling across his box to prevent a corner from a back pass by Wells. Clearing only as far as a Wrexham man, the resulting ball in was picked up and cleared away to keep the home side safe. Laurent had the next big effort, picking up the ball on the edge of the 18 yard box following a corner in from the left hand side. Laurent dinked an effort goal wards, which looked to be creeping under the bar until Wrexham goalkeeper Andy Coughlin tipped over to safety. Some silky skill from Holman created an opening as Braintree went forward with a three pronged attack. Mensahs layoff to Holman saw the striker pull off a double step over, only to fire directly at teammate Sean Marks, who was ahead in the box and inadvertently blocked. Mensah again came forward for the hosts, exchanging a nice one-two on his way through on goal, to set himself up to shoot with his left from just inside the Wrexham box. Coughlin was again equal to the effort when he was called upon, turning the ball out for yet another corner to the Iron. In the final ten minutes of the first half, Peters went forward to take the throw deep inside the visitors half. Playing in triangles, an opening was found to cross towards Marks, who couldnt make the most of the opportunity, again letting off the hosts. Wrexham pumped the ball forward, which was played out to Harris whose rare shot was blocked and ball cleared away. The Iron went a goal up in style when Davis played the ball into Dan Holman. Holman played the ball through the Wrexham defenders legs, into space which was pounced on by Sean Marks. Marks pushed the ball out towards the goalkeepers right post, rounding a committed Andy Coughlin and tucking the ball away from an acute angle to hand the home side the lead. Just before the break, Marks again prevented Holman from extending the lead when he blocked another effort from the frontman, meaning the home side would be just one goal up when the whistle was blown at half time. Last years playoff finalists started the second half better than they finished the first, battling in the Braintree half and looking to create chances. A change in personnel on the hour accommodated a change in formation from the Dragons, facilitating a more attacking stance with three up front. A good chance fell to Joe Anyinsah, who met Brett Ormerods chest down with a snap shot that was matched by Nick Hamann. Wrexhams best chance of the night provoked a response from the Iron, with Barnard Mensah winning possession inside his own half. A surging run down the left wing resulted in Mensah cutting in on his right. David Artell forced Mensah out wide as he ran at the defender, eventually crossing the ball into the goalkeepers arms. Jay Harris found the referees book for a wild lunge on Matt Paine as the visitors began to appear frustrated. With 15minutes to play, Coughlin came out to clear, only playing the ball out as far as Bernard Mensah who had time to see the goalkeeper far off of his line. Mensah volleyed left footed towards goal, easily beating a backpedalling Andy Coughlin, but not beating the right post as his shot rebounded to safety. Mensah managed to pick up the ball on the left minutes after, pulling the ball back to Dan Holman who was just inside the Wrexham box. Holman adjusted his body well to shoot across goal, into Coughlins left corner. The outstretched Wrexham keeper could get nowhere near the strike, which doubled the lead for the hosts. Wrexham looked to respond through their 16 year old substitute, who met a bobbling ball in the box with his head, beating Nick Hamann. However, the woodwork also denied the youngster a dream debut as his head hit the bar. But the Braintree debutant was to prove more fruitful, when Alex Jakubiak rounded off a fantastic display from the Iron with a great solo effort. Jakubiak cut in from the left, nudged the ball onto his right and struck a curling shot into the right side of the Wrexham net. A fine finish to a fine performance from the Iron wrapped up three points with three goals and no response from the Welsh visitors. Ryan Peters commented after the game that he believes the team has a serious shout at breaking into the top half, and aims for top ten after a fantastic display. On the evenings performance, Ryan Peters said We can go to teams now and really dominate games, rather than sit back and hope that we can counter attack. Jakubiak has come in and added another dimension and got a goal on his debut, so its going well at the moment. Braintree: Hamann, Peters, Habergham, Wells, Massey, Davis (Isaac), Paine, Laurent, Mensah, Marks (Sparkes), Holman (Jakubiak). Unused Subs: McDonald, Daley. Wrexham: Coughlin, Wright, Ashton, Livesey (Artell), Harris (Reynolds), Ormerod, Keates, Tomassen, Hunt (Ogleby), Anyinsah, Carrington. Unused Subs: Mayebie, Clowes. Referee: Paul Rees. Assistants: Maurice Taylor and Gary Parsons. Fourth Official: Stuart Pawley. Attendance: 699. Match Report: Chris Pargin.
Posted on: Wed, 12 Mar 2014 16:10:24 +0000
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