Braintree Town 0 Maidstone United 1
How many more times are Braintree Town going to throw away a game and valuable league points in the final few minutes of stoppage time? Alas, that was the case again at Cressing Road on Saturday.
Having looked the better side for the majority of the game – both sides have struggled to score goals this season – it was the Iron who again conceded a penalty in the 95th minute, giving all three points to the visitors.
The crucial goal came when Iron substitute Luke Allen unnecessarily fouled former Colchester United loanee Blair Turgott, who was going away from goal.
Turgott picked himself up and scored from the penalty spot, firing the ball low to the left of the diving Iron keeper Ben Killip.
In what was a far from entertaining game, with both sides struggling in the relegation zone,it had all the hallmarks of a goalless draw.
Iron assistant’s manager, Barry Bolton, said: “I am speechless. How we didn’t get something from the game is incredible and to lose again so deep into added-on time is an insult and added misery for everyone involved.
“I know the referees have a difficult job and I never like to place any open criticism on them, but today’s officials were extremely poor and totally inconsistent.
“Moments before giving the visitors what in my view was a dubious penalty, up at the other Reece Grant was so blatantly brought down in the box yet the referee simply waved play on.
“The referee’s inconsistency over the few drop ball incidents in the game, which confused both sets of players at the time, was amazing and also every inconsistent. There’s always a fine line as we know, but it’s still down to the players at the end of the day to convert the many moves when we went forward.
“We should have scored more than once before conceding the late penalty,” added Bolton.
In a game of few clear-cut goal scoring chances, it was the Iron who had the more efforts on target but failed to take them, with Reece and Mohamed Bettamer going close in the first half, while at the other end Turgott forced Killip into two fine saves.
The Iron now face a tough home game tomorrow evening, against new league leaders Leyton Orient.
BRAINTREE: Killip, Muleba, Ellul, Nieskins, Gabriel, Sogaf (sub Allen, 84), Crook, James, Amaluzar, Bettamer, Grant (sub Della-Verde, 80). Unused subs: Pattison, Clark, Rowe.
Attendance: 807
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