Harriers triple whirlwind sinks Braintree

The Harriers finished the job that they didn't do on Saturday when they finally put paid to plucky Braintree's FA Trophy hopes with an emphatic 3-1 win.    It still took us until late on in the second half to score but once we did there was no stopping us.

Braintree had taken a half time lead through a Russ Edwards goal but the Reds hit back with a three goal rout in just four minutes.    A goal from Michael Blackwood and a third from Simon Russell were sandwiched around an own goal from Adedeji.

The rumours before the game were centered around Iyseden Christie and Gavin Hurren being fit enough to play but that was never going to materialise and we went with the same team that started in the first game with the exception of Brian Smikle making way for Russ Penn, back from his two game suspension.

In frosty, hard conditions underfoot it was Braintree on the attack right from the start.    In an effort to get an early goal they took the game to the Harriers and put Scott Bevan under pressure with a shot from Baker that went just wide but we answered that with a rising shot from Simon Russell that the keeper just about managed to get a hand to and stopped it from going in.

We had another chance from Mark Creighton but, although perfectly placed, his header went well over.

The Iron came close again when Quinton got on the end of Bevans poor punch out but his shot was wide from six yards out and then Bertie Brayley beat Jeff Kenna for pace to send over a cross into the box that was far too hard and went out of play on the other side of the ground.

The home side were starting to gain the upperhand now and their nippy winger, Martin, was the one doing the most damage to us.    His fast runs, spurred on by the home crowd, were causing plenty of heart stopping moments in the Harriers defence.    The closest came in the thirtieth minute when he found the head of 'Nelson' Riddle but thankfully Bevan was quick out of the traps to grab the ball safely.

It wasn't all going Braintrees way though because at the other end Russ Penn was performing acrobatics to send in an overhead shot from eight yards out that got blocked on the line.

With half time approaching disaster struck.    Brayley broke down the left and picked out Russ Edwards with a pin point ball that the centre half powered past Scott Bevan from fifteen yards out to put the home side one goal to the good.