BRAINTREE TOWN 1 WREXHAM 0

Vanarama Conference Premier

NOT one but two long waits were finally ended for Braintree Town.

The Iron’s goal drought and even longer wait for a Vanarama Conference Premier win were concluded with a 1-0 win against Wrexham at the Miles Smith Stadium.

Braintree came into the game on the back of a run of ten winless league games – the last six of which had been without the Iron troubling the scoresheet.

However, Charlie Strutton’s 26th-minute strike separated the two teams and was a welcome boost for boss Alan Devonshire and his men.

There were two changes for Braintree from the side that lost 1-0 at Dover on Tuesday.

Mitch Brundle dropped to the bench with Sam Habergham coming back in and Kenny Davis was out with a groin injury as Strutton made his first start since signing permanently for the Iron last summer.

Despite their poor recent form, Braintree started positively with the majority of the early play all in the Wrexham half.

Simeon Akinola was a particular thorn in the Welsh team’s side, showing skill and pace in a generally positive opening that belied their recent goalless run.

For all their good play, there was no breakthrough, though.

But that all changed in the 26th minute when Strutton stepped forward to take a free-kick about 25 yards out.

His initial effort rebounded back off the Wrexham wall, but Strutton showed presence of mind to drill in a second shot that skimmed off the turf and past Andy Coughlin in the visitors’ goal.

The strike ended a 620-minute wait since the last Braiintree goal in the league – Jordan Cox’s goal in their 3-1 defeat at Gateshead at the start of October.

And the relief around the ground was palpable from fans and players alike.

It led to renewed pressure from the hosts and Coughlin had to be at his best to keep out attempts after excellent play by both Sean Marks and Chez Isaac in the following minutes.

However, it stayed with Braintree holding a slender lead at the interval.

Wrexham gave it another 15 minutes before trying something different as they made a triple substitution on the hour-mark and it almost worked for them.

Better pressure saw Louis Moult having a shot from the edge of the box and only a wonderful save by Nick Hamann kept the hosts ahead.

The Welsh team did keep pressing but looked increasingly vulnerable to Braintree attacks on the break and one of these led to the visitors being reduced to ten men for the final eight minutes.

Referee Nigel Lugg had already issued eight cautions – four for each side – and made one of them a red as Blaine Hudson fouled James Mulley for his second booking.

It made Braintree’s job a bit easier in the closing stages and there was jubilation as Lugg blew the final whistle.