Braintree Town 1 Leyton Orient 5

A devastating 13 minute spell early in the second half saw the league leaders sweep the Iron aside as they netted three quick goals to deservedly win and maintain their 13 game unbeaten run this season, writes David Ward.

The visitors had taken an eighth minute lead when Josh Koroma was fouled in the area and ex-Colchester United striker Macauley Bonne tucked home the spot kick but the Iron more than held their own in the first half and managed a 23rd minute equaliser through Lyle Della-Verde who poked the ball home at the far post.

All the good approach work by the Iron was spoilt on 41 minutes when again another individual mistake allowed the visitors to retake the lead through Marvin Ekipteta who swivelled on the ball in the area and drove it past keeper Ben Killip.

Up to that point the Iron had done more than enough to have gone in at half time level pegging and early in the second half they started well again with some fine forward movement but again there was nobody up front to put the ball in the net.

The game though changed in favour of the visitors with three quick goals, again all down to individual Iron players’ mistake as first on 57 minutes Koroma raced through to lob the ball over the head of the advancing Killip and then on 64 minutes another mistake allowed the unmarked Bonne at the far post the simplest of tap-ins for his second goal.

Six minutes later Bonne was on hand again to complete his hat-trick with a deflected goal again through another defensive mistake.

Although credit to the Iron players they never gave up right to the end and again moved menacing forward but time and time again balls into the visitors’ area were good but there was simply no striker there to get on the end of them.

It meant the visitors managed to easily see the game out and retain their top of the league position whilst the Iron slip to the bottom of the league after Dover Athletic gained a point.

Iron boss Brad Quinton was philosophical about his side’s defeat adding: “We have to be realistic because we were up again the league leaders with full-time professionals and some experienced and quality players with such fine pass and movement up and down the field.

“My young players are still learning but again we more than held our own in the first half and should have come in on equal terms,” he explained. “But again it was down to individual mistakes that cost us the goals in the second half and at this level of football up against full-timers you get immediately punished.

“I’m disappointed and I don’t think the 5-1 scoreline truly reflected on our performance but the players know they have to do the basics right,” he continued.

“We also need consistency but we’ll dust ourselves down and work hard in training and look forward to Saturday’s game at AFC Fylde.”

He added: “I know we urgently need a strong striker and we are working on that and talking to several clubs with such a player available but of course it has to be right for us and we have to remain realistic over our playing budget. It may mean losing two players to bring in such a new player but hopefully we’ll have something sorted by the weekend.”

It’s the first time the Iron have lost heavily this season but that’s no disgrace because the Orient with a huge playing budget available are determined to make it back to the Football League for next season and on this showing they look the strongest championship contenders.

Braintree Town: Killip; Clark, Nieskins, Ellul (81 Amaluzar); Muleba, Crook (61 Sogaf), Della-Verde, Rowe (Charlees 81), Gabriel; Bettamer, James. Unused subs: Pattison, Grant.

Attendance: 2,574

Referee: David Rock.

The Iron are away to AFC Fylde on Saturday, kick off 3pm.