Braintree Town go back to the top as Poole Town are beaten on the south coast by Quinton’s men

Dernell Wynter has just opened the scoring for Iron and the celebrations begin. Photo:JON WEAVER (Image: Archant)

A thoroughly professional second half performance by the Iron ensured they returned home from this game at the Black Gold Stadium with all three points and easing themselves back on top of the Vanarama South League, writes Dave Ward.

It was an impressive display which delighted Iron manager Brad Quinton who said: “It’s important to come to grounds like this and get the right result and equally to go home with another clean sheet.

“It was a tremendous all round team performance because we played some good football throughout,” he said. “We should have come in leading at half time with the possession and movement we had and it was crucial that we kept our discipline.

“The second half showed what we are capable of with excellent defending when needed and moving the ball forward with our passing game,” he said. “We won comfortably in the end but we should have scored more goals in that second half.”

Quinton made one change from the previous week’s winning side against Bognor Regis with new signing Jo Ellul from Billericay Town coming in at the three-man backline replacing Osa Obanwonyi.

“I think Jo did exceptionally well fitting in without really knowing his fellow defenders and again playing three at the back with the wing-backs able to push forward at every opportunity paid off,” he added.

The Iron controlled most of the first half with both Karl Oliyide and Phil Roberts going close before defender Marc Okoye moved up for a corner only to see his header comes back off the woodwork.

The Iron were helped on 49 minutes when home defender Will Spetch was shown a second yellow card for hauling down Dernell Wynter and 10 minutes later it was Wynter who opened the scoring.

Home keeper Nick Hutchings managed to parry away shots from Roberts and Oliyide but Wynter was on hand to pick up the third rebound to drive the ball into the net.

It was no more than the Iron deserved for all their promising endeavours up to then although their rarely troubled keeper Nathan McDonald had to be alert on 67 minutes to tip a fierce free-kick from the home side onto the crossbar and behind for a corner.

Wanting that second goal to give them more breathing space it finally came with a finely taken shot on 75 minutes by wing-back Mahrez Bettache which went across the face of the goal and into the far corner of the net.

With the Iron now looking rampant every time they crossed the half way into the home half it was not surprise when on 78 minutes Samir Bihmoutine sent a low cross in from the left wing to the edge of the penalty box where the unmarked Billy Crook side-footed into the net with Hutchings well beaten.

A good and fully deserved win on the day for the Iron who now sit three points clear at the top from the chasing pack.

Next up for the Iron is this coming Saturday when Weston-Super-Mare are the visitors in town with a kick off at 3pm.

Braintree Town: McDonald; Frimpong, Okoye (Gabriel 74), Ellul; Battache, Wyatt, Crook, Bihmoutine, Wynter (Barrington 79); Roberts, Oliyide (Michael-Percil 65). Unused subs: Baxter, Muleba.

Attendance: 470

Referee: Alex Blake (Waterlooville).