SOUTHPORT 4 BRAINTREE TOWN 5

Vanarama National League

A neutral supporter looking for goals could have done far worse than heading to Southport’s Haig Avenue ground as Braintree Town won an enthralling nine-goal thriller.

The Vanarama National League game had ups and downs throughout for both sides, but ended with the Iron winning 5-4 on a memorable afternoon of goals in the north-west.

It was a fourth away win of the season for the Essex side and was notable as it allowed Braintree to jump above Southport on goal difference and out of the National League relegation places.

Braintree made three changes from the side that started in the 2-2 draw with Bromley in midweek.

Having gone to the wrong venue and missed the start of Tuesday’s game, Simeon Akinola got his directions right this time and returned to the line-up as Sam Matthews moved to the bench.

Also dropping to the bench was Reece Hall-Johnson as Ipswich Town loanee Monty Patterson came back from international duty with New Zealand, while Jake Goodman missed out through injury.

Goodman’s replacement in the middle of the Iron defence was new-signing Immanuel Parry, who had come in from National League South side Margate the day before.

The side may have been different from the Bromley game but the start was very similar as Braintree took control with a goal in the opening minute.

With just 58 seconds on the clock, full-back Sean Clohessy crossed to where Michael Cheek was waiting to put the ball in the back of the net.

It was another perfect start for the Iron, but rather than then allow their opponents to gather themselves and hit back with a quick equaliser, they held on to their advantage this time.

In fact they felt unfortunate not to add to it with a couple of good opportunities.

The best of those saw a good save from Southport keeper Magnus Norman deny Cheek just seconds after he had got the first goal after he was sent through by a pass from Akinola.

It meant Braintree failed to consolidate their lead and while they held on to it a bit longer than on Tuesday, they did succumb to a leveller on 17 minutes.

Jamie Allen had a chance after a quick break by the host and a block by Oli Muldoon saw the chance go begging.

However, from the resulting corner, Jack Higgins lashed in an effort from the edge of the box that gave Sam Beasant no chance in the Iron goal.

If Braintree were ruing not taking chances in the first five minutes, they were left doubly kicking themselves and then trebly as they conceded twice in two minutes.

They had a let-off as a strong shot by Ben McKenna forced Beasant into great save at full stretch as he managed to push the ball on to the goalpost and was then able to claim the rebound.

However it was a brief respite as in the 27th minute, McKenna became provider as his cross was forced in at the far post by former Colchester United defender Josh Thompson.

That setback was compounded within seconds of the restart after a back pass was cleared by Beasant only on to the legs of the chasing Andrai Jones and the ball flew in.

Braintree were suddenly chasing the game but the topsy-turvy nature of it was just starting as the Iron hit back with three goals before the break.

The first part of their comeback started in the 30th minute as Danny Rumens headed in from Patterson’s corner for a debut Braintree goal and it continued six minutes later.

Cheek was crudely dragged back by Allen, who earned a caution for his challenge, and Oli Muldoon’s free-kick ended up in the back of the net to end an astonishing opening 36 minutes.

And it got even better in the seconds before half-time as the opening period ended with Braintree back ahead.

Three minutes into time added-on at the end of the 45 minutes, another free-kick from Muldoon was met by Cheek, who tapped home from close range to give the visitors the advantage once again.

They were inches from going further ahead after the restart as well as Akinola saw a header tipped over the bar in the opening seconds of the second half.

However, the eighth goal of the game wasn’t long in coming.

Unfortunately for the Iron, though, it was at the other end of the pitch.

Southport’s Jones broke clear and went round Beasant before being brought down by the Iron keeper, who received a yellow card from referee Andrew Miller, who also pointed straight to the penalty spot.

It was Jamie Allen who stepped forward and he tucked the spot-kick into the corner of the net to make it level once more.

That typically didn’t last, though, as Patterson swung in another corner and Jack Midson headed in to put the Iron ahead for a third time in the 63rd minute.

The Iron’s fifth goal set Southport back and the game finally entered a quieter spell, but they looked to hit back again as they threw caution to the wind in the latter stages.

It looked as though the goal-fest would continue as Jones saw a chance open but Beasant pulled off another wonderful save as he kept the ball out from point-blank range.

Substitute James Caton then blasted over from 12 yards in a frenetic finish to the game as the hosts went searching for another equalising strike.

However, a fixture that had been all about the goals was not ended by another as Braintree held on to their slender lead for a vital three points that lifted them out of the National League relegation places.

Braintree Town: Sam Beasant, Jerome Okimo, Immanuel Parry, Danny Rumens, Sean Clohessy, Harry Lee, Oli Muldoon (Chez Isaac), Jack Midson, Simeon Akinola, Michael Cheek (Lee Barnard), Monty Patterson (Reece Hall-Johnson).

Subs not used: Ian Gayle, Sam Matthews.

Referee: Andrew Miller.