ALDERSHOT TOWN 2 BRAINTREE TOWN 0

Vanarama National League

Braintree Town knew a win at Aldershot was the very least they required if there was to be any final day reprieve for them and sadly for the Iron, that failed to materialise.

They needed to beat an Aldershot side that had lost just once in the Vanarama National League since Christmas to have any hope at all of maintaining their place in English non-league football’s top-flight.

They also required at least two other results to go their way but their 2-0 defeat at the EBB Stadium meant that what happened elsewhere was merely an academic addendum.

On the day, Braintree were run ragged at times by a confident and free-flowing Aldershot forward line and while they tried to be brave themselves and did have chances, second half goals killed the slim hopes they may have held at the start.

It meant a season that had been troubled from day one ended with relegation after six seasons at the top table.

There were four changes to Braintree’s side from the one that started their 2-0 defeat by Barrow seven days before.

Most eye-catching was the replacement of goalkeeper Sam Beasant by Ben McNamara in the line-up, while three were also three outfield alterations.

Harry Lee, Manny Parry and Kyron Farrell all returned, with Jake Goodman and Sam Corne dropping to the bench and Kris Twardek out of the matchday squad.

The selection suggested a 4-5-1 formation before the start, but once the first whistle went, it quickly became apparent that they were set up in a 3-5-2.

It was a brave more and more attacking, with Parry, Jon Ashton and Jerome Okimo across the back line and Reece Hall-Johnson and Sean Clohessy in wide wing-back positions on the left and right respectively.

That had Farrell, Lee and Chez Isaac in a tight midfield and Michael Cheek and Jack Midson leading the way up front.

It was a positive move from Iron boss Hakan Hayrettin and his players responded with a good start, but it wasn’t long until the Shots asserted themselves.

Having repelled their visitors in the opening few minutes, they began stroking the ball around with pace and precision.

They had a fluid front line that pulled the Braintree back line around, but the visitors stood firm in the opening stages with some brave defending.

However, it took a stop by McNamara to keep it goalless in the ninth minute as the hosts kept the pressure on.

On 17 minutes, a lovely ball into a gap behind the Iron defence allowed Kundai Benyu time and space to get a low cross in but Scott Rendell steered his shot wide as the visitors had a let-off.

At the other end, a quick break did give some respite and also opened the first real chance for the Iron.

On 20 minutes, a great run forward by Hall-Johnson ended with him pulling a shot just inches past the post as he fired across the goal when he really needed to test home keeper Jake Cole.

Aldershot were soon back on the front foot, though, and the Iron defence was being stretched again.

The ball comes out to Kundai Benyu and he had time and space to pick his shot but curled the ball just wide of the post They were then inches away as a swift move forward saw the ball drifted in to former Braintree loan player Bernard Mensah about six yards out but his header was cleared off the line by Chez Isaac.

Rendell then struck the side netting from inside the area as the flow of the play remained almost totally one-way.

Braintree desperately needed to find some more possession to stem the flow heading towards their own goal and it did arrive as the half drew to a close.

They started to hold on to it more and pressed bodies further forward as they exposed a level of frailty in the home defence.

Gaps were opened up and while clear-cut chances remained scarce, it would have sent the visitors into the half-time break with far greater confidence.

And the half ended with a move forward that saw Jack Midson pull the ball back to Harry Lee on the edge of the box and he unleashed a thunderbolt effort.

It looked to be heading into the top corner and the only thing that stood in the way of that was the body of Will Evans, who was able to deflect the ball over the bar to safety as the half ended goalless.

At the break, things elsewhere were looking positive for the Iron as two of the three sides they needed to lose – York City and Guisely – were behind in their respective matches.

However, Braintree knew they had a job to do themselves and were looking for a positive start after the break.

It was the hosts who made the more threatening start and they signalled their intent again as first Idris Kanu and the Shamir Fenelon shot over from good positions.

The Iron did respond, though, with Jerome Okimo heading into Cole’s arms from a Lee throw and Parry then heading just wide from a free-kick at the back post by Farrell.

As scintillating as the hosts were going forward, they were troubled when Braintree got themselves into forward positions.

So it was with considerable disappointment when the opening goal came on 55 minutes.

Kanu had tried his luck from the edge of the box and a Braintree boot took it over the bar, but the breakthrough came from the resulting corner.

The ball into the middle was met with a bullet header from Will Evans that buried itself into the back of the Iron net giving McNamara no chance at all and the visitors knew they suddenly had a mountain to climb.

That steep slope got even steeper on 58 minutes when Aldershot doubled their lead.

It came from a source familiar to Iron fans – their former loan player Bernard Mensah.

The ex-Braintree man picked the ball up and advanced into the box before drilling a low shot past McNamara into the bottom corner to put a cap on any lingering hopes Braintree may have had.

Iron boss Hayrettin threw the dice one final time as he made changes to try to salvage something, but trailing by two goals and with results elsewhere going against them, it was bleak for Braintree.

In truth, they knew the game was up as the home side looked comfortable in their two-goal lead, which almost became three when Cheye Alexander could only find the side netting with the goal gaping.

The game was played out without too much further ado as the Iron’s time in the Vanarama National League came to an end and they were left looking forward to a future in the National League South.

Braintree Town: Ben McNamara, Sean Clohessy (Craig Braham-Barrett 64), Jerome Okimo, Jon Ashton, Manny Parry, Kyron Farrell (Sam Corne 60), Chez Isaac, Harry Lee (Lee Barnard 64), Reece Hall-Johnson, Jack Midson, Michael Cheek.

Subs not used: Joe Maybanks, Jake Goodman.

Referee: Antony Coggins.