U’s loanee James makes an impact as Iron draw at Boreham Wood
Dave Nieskens and Luke Allen in action for Braintree Town at Boreham Wood on Saturday. Picture: JON WEAVER - Credit: Archant
Boreham Wood 1 Braintree Town 1
Braintree Town concede the opening goal at Boreham, before powering back to draw 1-1 Picture: JON WEAVER - Credit: Archant
Braintree Town may still be searching for their first league win of the season, but this impressive performance at Meadow Park on Saturday was their best of the campaign, giving manager Brad Quinton belief that they are finally on the right track.
Quinton gave debuts to four new signings – Dutch central defender Dave Nieskens, midfielders Cameron James (from Colchester United) and Mohammed Sagaf, plus striker Justin Amaluzor – and they all played their part in a rejuvenated Iron display.
“I’m really pleased with them and how the rest of the players performed as a team, bearing in mind we had only one training session together,” said Quinton.
“I felt the first half we didn’t put enough pressure on them but in the second half we were clearly the better side, playing our high tempo game and with excellent passing of the ball.
Mo Bettamer (second left) is congratulated after scoring for Braintree in the 1-1 draw at Boreham Wood. Picture: JON WEAVER - Credit: Archant
“Our defence looked far more solid with 24 year-old Nieskens using his strength and experience to hold it all together.
“Sagaf never stopped working and did so well having come up from our reserve side, which is a big step, while both James and Amaluzor gave us much more aggression.
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“All of them played their part and again goalkeeper Ben Killip was excellent, pulling off saves at crucial times including that fantastic finger-tip save in the fourth minute of added time to ensure we at least went away with a point,” added Quinton.
With young Ipswich loanee left-back Pat Webber returning from injury, the Iron looked a far more composed and cohesive team than of late. A draw was the fair result.
The first half saw the home side have the better of the exchanges but the Iron came closest to scoring on the half-hour. Amaluzor’s first time shot struck the foot of a post.
The hosts also hit the woodwork when Jamal Fyfield’s shot came back of the bar, but on 34 minutes he did score by heading home a Keiran Murtagh free-kick.
There was little that home keeper Ellery Balcombe could do about Iron’s 48th minute equaliser.
An fine free-kick by Mohamed Bettamer was first fired low into the far corner of the net.
This gave the Iron fresh impetus and for long periods of the second half they were the better side, before Killip made a great late save to preserve a point.
BRAINTREE; Killip, Lyons-Foster, Nieskens, Webber, James, Allen, Crook (sub Della-Verde, 84), Allen, Gabriel; Sagaf, Bettamer, Amaluzor (sub Pattison, 72). Unused subs: Durojaiye, Clark, Blackmore.
Attendance: 578
