Disappointing Iron slip nearer the relegation zone after poor defeat

Iron's Kris Twardek gets in a header. All photos; Alan Stuckey (Image: Archant)

This disappointing Iron performance and subsequent defeat at the Community Stadium on Saturday drags the side closer to within two points of the relegation zone and with teams below them winning on the day means they need to improve and improve quickly if they are to avoid the drop.

It was not a case of the home side being the better team – they certainly weren’t on the day, but their players wanted it more, passed the ball better, were far well more organised and defended well while creating chances in comparison to the Iron who completely lost their way, particularly in the second half.

In the first 10 minutes the Iron looked good with Michael Cheek firing narrowly over from a free-kick but once the home side went in front a minute later it was all uphill from then on for the visitors.

The Iron defence was again so suspect as it has for most of the season in giving away an unnecessary free-kick on the edge of their area in the home side’s first real attack where the evergreen striker Jon Parkin drove the ball from 25 yards out over the wall into the top corner of the net.

Braintree fans look on as York keeper Loach makes a great save from Chez Isaacs free kick (Image: Archant)

The crucial deciding moment in the game though came a minute into first half stoppage when a deep cross from Amari Morgan-Smith out on the right wing was completely missed by Iron keeper Sam Beasant leaving Asa Hall the simplest of chances to head the ball home.

It was a dreadful goal for the Iron to give away and also at such a vital time and it was a pivotal mistake that would cost them dearly because their second half display was in all honesty abysmal.

The home side dominated the game, often embarrassingly playing keep ball as Iron players chased shadows, and it was no surprise they added a third on 76 minutes when the man of the match Morgan-Smith was given so much free space on the edge of the Iron area he had ample time to fire the ball low into the bottom corner of the goal past the hapless Beasant.

The home side could have added two or three more goals before the end. The final whistle couldn’t have come sooner for the demoralised Iron players who now entertain promotion play-off chasing Dover next Saturday.