FATE wasted no time in acquainting Steve Pitt with the vicissitudes of management, writes RON FOSKER.
In his first match as Braintree Town's new boss on Saturday, Pitt saw his side finish level in the FA Trophy tie with third-placed Forest Green only to be denied the reward of a place in the next round by the heartbreak of a penalty shoot-out.
The visitors scored all five of theirs and owed their victory to their keeper Jed Ward, who brought off a superb save to deny Marley Miranda.
Miranda's effort was well struck, heading just inside the post, but Ward guessed right and hurled himself across his goal to keep it out.
It was tough on the new manager whose side had put in a commendably hard-fought performance to finish level at 1-1 after 90 minutes.
They had the better of the first half with the strong wind and driving rain at their backs and took the lead with an outstanding goal by Kyrell Lisbie.
Tom Blackwell had outpaced his marker on the left wing and sent over a cross that was just behind Lisbie.
In a blink of an eye the ball was in the back of the net as the 21-year-old executed a perfect bicycle kick. Had it been on Match of the Day it would have had the pundits in raptures.
The second half was a different matter as Forest Green turned on the class and speed and, worryingly, frequently outpaced the Iron defenders.
Their raids were repelled or fizzled out and it was a set piece routine that allowed them back in the game.
A two-touch corner routine in the 65th minute found its way to Adam May who placed his shot expertly in the corner of the net.
It came less than two minutes after Rovers had refreshed their side with two substitutions and it was curious that, with players of the calibre of Jermaine Francis, Jamal Fyfield and Callum Powell on the bench that Pitt chose to keep his starting eleven on the pitch for the whole match.
And so to penalties. James Venning, John Akinde and Tom Blackwell scored theirs but Ward's save from Miranda's effort was enough to put Braintree out, their second such experience, having suffered a penalties defeat at Brackley in the FA Cup in early November.
Braintree Town: Lucas Covolan; Louie Annesley, George Langston, Frankie Terry, Ryan Clampin; Kyrell Lisbie, James Vennings, Marley Miranda, Matt Robinson, Tom Blackwell; John Akinde.
