Inspired Holloway helps Iron steal win

By maharris

BRAINTREE TOWN 1

WOKING 0

(Blue Square South)

BRAINTREE Town completed a smash and grab job on their own ground as they beat Woking at Cressing Road on Saturday.

There had been little to warm the freezing cold Iron faithful until George Purcell turned on the edge of the box and fired in an unstoppable shot on 70 minutes.

It was only Braintree's second shot on target all game and punished the visitors for profligacy in front of goal, after having the lion's share of the possession and creating the best chances.

The Cards' Ademola Moses was perhaps the most wasteful, missing a handful of good opportunities, and it was no surprise he was withdrawn with 16 minutes remaining.

Braintree were indebted to goalkeeper Craig Holloway, who pulled off a string of excellent saves during a Woking onslaught in the opening 20 minutes of the second half.

The first half had been fairly even with neither goalkeeper called into action as the ball became bogged down in midfield, with neither team creating any clear cut chances until the final 10 minutes when the full-time visitors began to assert themselves.

Both sides had traded blasts over the bar before the first real effort of note came on 36 minutes, when a free-kick from the visitors was flicked-on from the edge of the Iron penalty area and Cards striker Matthew Wright beat Holloway to the ball.

But the bounce wasn't kind and although he lofted the ball over the closing 'keeper the ball also sailed over the bar.

Soon after Wright headed wide and the visitors should have gone ahead on the stroke of half-time when a ball forward wasn't cut out by the Iron defence and Moses raced away.

The looked set to break the deadlock as he went one-on-one with Holloway, but he rolled the ball past the 'keeper and a yard wide of the right-hand post.

Woking continued where they left off after the break and Holloway made a reaction save from six yards when Wright got a foot to a cross into the box. The Iron only managed to half clear and the ball was returned, but Moses had his goalbound shot blocked by Paul Goodacre.

On 57 minutes Moses collected the ball on the left channel and jinked his way into the penalty area, but the goalbound shot was deflected wide for a corner. Braintree cleared the flag kick but a wicked shot from distance by Harry Arter was athletically tipped over the bar by Holloway.

A minute later he was called into action again palming a long range effort from Jon Boardman round the post.

Woking failed to relent and on 65 minutes Holloway managed to claw a cross-cum-shot over the bar with a crowd of defenders and attackers around him.

The Iron had taken a battering, but had weathered the storm and began to make ground in the Cards' half.

Purcell, fed by Mike Power, received the ball in the left channel, but after getting in a good position he dragged his shot wide.

Two minutes later on 67 Sean Marks got Braintree's first shot on target after getting free on the right channel. However, the effort was tame and easily gathered by Woking 'keeper Ross Worner.

It was Marks' last bit of action as he was replaced by Reece Harris a minute later, with Purcell moving into his move favoured position in the middle. It had the desired affect as two minutes later Purcell had broken the deadlock.

Woking returned on the attack but the wind had been taken out of them.

A penalty shout was turned down by referee Nigel Field, who gave an erratic performance at best.

There was time for one last scare in the final minute of normal time as another Woking cross seemed to be sneaking in at the back post until Holloway managed to tip the ball round the post from right under the stanchion.