The Harriers failed to raise their game against a clueless Braintree side that packed the defence at every opportunity to stifle an equally clueless Harriers frontline. They now face a mid week replay in Essex that they must now go all out to win if they want to progress any further in this seasons FA Trophy.
Admittedly we were without a number of key players but there can be no excuse for the lack of passion displayed by some of those chosen to replace Iyseden Christie, Gavin Hurren and Russ Penn in the starting line-up. Andy White came in for Christie again, Jake Sedgemore for Hurren and Brian Smikle replaced Simon Russell to allow Russell to take up the role that Penn usually plays. Out of those only Smikle could really admit that he had tried hard to achieve something.
One player that did come back from injury was Jonny Harkness and he went back to his usual full-back position leaving Michael Blackwood to return to his usual place out wide.
It all looked so promising early doors with Blackwood beating his marker continually and putting some decent crosses in. From one of these the Harriers latest signing, James Constable, hooked the ball over the bar from only a few yards out. He was to miss another chance just minutes later when he failed to connect with a sudden ball into the area and again the ball was blazed high over the bar. His third open goal miss in three games now.
The much maligned Andy White came close to scoring just before the half hour mark when he suddenly rifled in a snap shot from outside the area but Nick Morgan, in the Irons goal, collected it easily enough.
We did have the net rippling during a dour first half when Brian Smikle sent a quick shot into the side netting after Jeff Kenna and Simon Russell had worked a path towards the goal area.
Constable had a free header on the stroke of half time but he had got under it too much and the chance went well over the bar.
Braintree had done very little to warrant their presence in the game during a dire first half but we had been worse because we didn't even look interested in applying any pressure or providing any kind of cutting edge to gain the upperhand.
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Brian Smikle
