Braintree Town 2-1 Aldershot Town (National League)
I got invited to a barbeque on Saturday so had to scrap plans to cover Boston United and Forest Green Rovers at the Jakemans Stadium in Lincolnshire, instead doing a bit of hungover viewing from home on Sunday afternoon as I streamed the previous days Bradford City and Salford City match on Wyscout, which I already tediously knew, ended 0-0 in a damp squib at Valley Parade.
I wasn’t too bothered about missing Boston lose 4-0 as I only saw them the week before, but I’ve never been to Braintree, so no chance of scrapping a Tuesday night in Essex as the ‘Iron’ play Aldershot at the wonderfully named Rare Breed Meat Co. Stadium.
The Shots are National League mainstays these days, in their twelfth season in the division after five years previous in the football league. Braintree have never been in the football league, previously known as Crittall Athletic they changed from Braintree to Braintree Town in 1983 and have since had a few spells in the fifth tier of English football with a best placed third finish in 2016.
Ever-since that season the club have yo-yoed between National League and National South, but they gained promotion last season after beating Worthing in a thrilling playoff final 4-3.
This season hasn’t yet gone to plan with two defeats by Oldham and Yeovil, Aldershot unbeaten after drawing 3-3 with Forest Green on the opening day and winning at Halifax 1-0 on Saturday.
It’s 4pm, the wife has just got back, so I’m off out the door leaving her on dog duty, heading south, down the A1 and M11 it’s a 2-hour 30-minute drive which is thankfully smooth as the sunshine threatens to come out beyond the cloudy skies, I'm off the A120 ring road of Braintree by 6:30pm and pull up outside a pub called the Orange Tree off Cressing Road where I park.
The Venue
It’s full of Lego houses around here, flat roof, white painted things, as I walk down Clockhouse Way towards the ground entrance. It’s quaint inside the gates and not much to it. There’s a training pitch next to the car park (£3 a car) and the ground itself, sponsored by a local butcher, is all fenced in as I search for a gate which says ‘season tickets only’… Apparently, I’m on their list.
Once inside it’s a lovely, leafy, grassy home backed by trees, old, pitched roofing, steel posted stands, not huge, but idyllic, proper non-league and 'real', each end is open to the elements but its all neatly tucked in, packed into a cosy tight area as I ask ‘where can I get a brew’.
I’m seated at the top of the Main Stand where I’m met by a Radio London presenter doing the comms for Aldershot today. He’s from Croydon which is ironically the same place as where the man from Radio Essex once lived as they talk across me about the joys of South London.
It’s a good view, bar the post in my way to the left hand goal, the fans behind it packed into the open terrace, it looks like they’re standing on the roof as you can just about see the top of the clubhouse behind them.
The Game
Braintree in orange are buoyed by a vocal support but Aldershot in black start well, they keep possession and look dangerous largely through their talented left winger Ryan Jones, the away side having more joy in a first half which they often menace, but there’s something about Braintree who look less talented, but certainly more than up for the fight.
They’ve had to dig in and defend though to get to the break level, but with a minute to go until half time, Theo Widdrington gets space outside the area, he chips to the back post where Jones is waiting, he makes no mistake in giving the Shots the lead.
The Score
Braintree make a change at half time and bring on Kyrell Lisbie, he’s a player I remember from Cray Valley Paper Mills and last season’s magical FA Cup run, he scored against Charlton in the first round where they were beaten 6-1 after a replay, ironically against a team his dad, Kevin, used to play for.
He’s lively too, quick and direct down the left wing he’s causing problems and Braintree have came out of the blocks a different team, but Aldershot are still getting chances, debutant goalkeeper Lucas Covolan who himself had a memorable FA Cup run with Maidstone last season, races out of his goal and miss-kicks to Tyler Frost on half way, the Aldershot number 8 returning the ball towards the open goal but inches wide.
Frost has another chance to make it two, blazing over inside the area, I start to wonder will those two opportunities cost his team? Suddenly a marauding run down the right has the ball centered to Lisbie who heads home a leveller, now the game really is anybody's to win.
Aldershot react with a powerful run from centre back by Christian Maghoma, a smart move linking up with Jones he pops a thunderbolt shot off towards goal which hits his own man and out for a goal kick, you feel it might not be there night?
And as the crowd noise intensifies late on and the home team reacts in having that bit more self-belief to push on and attack, a scrappy few minutes in pressure results in a ball again being pumped into the area, Lisbie on hand to stretch out a leg, a two goal hero and matchwinner as the home team deservedly turn the table over. The proverbial game of two halves.
The Stars
Lisbie was a constant menace in the second half but hats off to Braintree Head Coach Angelo Harrop who made good positive substitutions at the right times, in Reggie Lambe and in the huge, strong and experienced John Akinde who certainly managed to ruffle a few feathers. The powerful 35-year-old Akinde came on for Inih Effiong who had a good tussle with Aldershot defender Maghoma, but my eyes were often drawn to young Marley Marshall Miranda who at 21 is a midfielder with a bit of snap, and certainly some technique. He’s a recent signing from Colchester United and one I think to watch this season.
For Aldershot, they looked to have the better players, they were the better side in the first half, but not in the second half, where they deserved what they got from not knowing whether to stick, or twist, I did really like left winger Ryan Jones who got his goal and caused problems down the left, whilst full back Luke Jennings behind him was solid with decent feet, Former Spurs centre half Christian Maghoma is a solid National League defender, whilst in midfield, the Manager's son Theo Widdrington kept things simple and Cameron Hargreaves worked his socks off, their technical playmaker Josh Barrett unfortunately going off with injury before half time.
The Verdict
I told the Braintree chief tweeter that his side will be hard to beat at home this season and he replied ‘we pride ourselves on our home record’ a tight ground with a good atmosphere, Angelo Harrop has signed some good players and has some old wiry heads in that dressing room to battle through when the chips are down. A good blend of characters at his disposal.
Aldershot looked every bit a team with potential to do well this season, but not winning when on top will disturb them and their Manager Tommy Widdrington, do they have the spine and backbone to kick on and be a real pretender for promotion this year? I’m not so sure? Although I certainly think they have the technical ability through their players to be in and around the mix.
The Teams
Braintree Town: Lucas Covolan, Ryan Clampin, George Langston, Louie Annesley, James Vennings, Marley Miranda, Inih Effiong (John Akinde 72), Callum Powell (Kyrell Lisbie 46), Chay Cooper (Tom Blackwell 90), Matt Robinson (Reggie Lambe 68), Joe Grimwood.
Aldershot: Marcus Dewhurst, Lachlan Byrd, Luke Jenkins, Christian Maghoma, Theo Widdrington, Cameron Hargreaves, Tyler Frost, Kai Corbett (Jack Barham 72), Josh Barrett (James Henry 43), Ryan Jones, Hady Ghandour.
7:45pm Kick Off. Tuesday 20th August 2024, Cressing Road, Braintree (att 1,227).
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