Football: Iron back in promotion race

From the archive, first published Thursday 12th Apr 2007.

BRAINTREE TOWN hauled themselves back into the Nationwide Conference South promotion race last night with a superb 2-0 win at fellow play-off candidates Bishop's Stortford.

This was a totally different Braintree from the one that surrendered so lamely against Thurrock two days earlier.

They outplayed their opponents in all areas of the field and never looked in trouble, after taking a two-goal lead after half an hour.

Manager George Borg made four changes from Monday's line-up, opting for fight rather than finesse by bringing back Andy Porter, Dean Bradshaw and James Hawes in place of David Lee, Robbie Martin and Eugene Ofori, while a fit again Mark Jones returned at left-back.

Iron looked dangerous early on as both Hawes and Jones fired shots over the bar and Russ Edwards had a header saved by keeper Andrew Young.

They went in front after 22 minutes when Louie Riddle thundered in a free-kick from 25 yards that left Young standing.

Riddle was at the heart of the move that led to the second goal eight minutes later.

He fought hard to win a ball on the right and slipped it inside to James Baker.

Young could only partially save Baker's shot and Hawes was on hand to slip it into the net.

The expected Stortford fightback never materialised.

Iron held them comfortably at bay for the remaining hour with Edwards and Ollie Adedeji in towering command at the back and keeper Nick Morgan comfortably dealing with anything that was thrown at him.