FA Trophy third qualifying round

Braintree Town 1 Farnborough 1

It was a second half performance that deserved a little more at Cressing Road, as Farnborough pushed their Blue Square South hosts Braintree Town all the way in Saturday’s FA Trophy clash.

But the killer touch just deserted them as they missed a couple of good chances to finish off their higher league opponents. A winning goal would have been just reward for a fast-paced, flowing display, and after a dominant second half Boro will certainly have felt they could already have booked their place in the first round proper.

Still, the way they played after the break will also give them plenty of confidence ahead of Tuesday's replay at Cherrywood Road, for the right to take on either Sutton United or Wingate & Finchley at home.

It looked as though Boro were in for a long afternoon when Braintree made all the early running and deservedly took the lead after just 15 minutes when James Hawes scrambled home.

Farnborough were guilty of giving The Iron a little too much respect and for half an hour of the first half, Braintree dominated the midfield and put the Boro back line under pressure with plenty of balls into the area.

But Nick Burton headed them level just before the break and, buoyed by that late equaliser, Boro carried the fight to their hosts in the second period.

It was an impressive display and showed once again that when they play to their potential, Boro are a match for most of what the Blue Square South has to offer.

But, had either Mark Gamble or Darren Wheeler been able to find the net from two clear-cut openings, Boro could already be sitting pretty in the first round proper — a fact that boss Francis Vines was well aware of.

“The way we played in the second half I would say that we were one quality ball into the box or one quality shot at goal away from winning the game,” he said. “It didn’t quite happen for us today, and we were missing that little bit of luck.

“I wouldn’t say we were disappointing in the first half, but they caused us a lot of problems in the first 15 minutes with a lot of balls into the box. That was where the first goal came from but we had words with the boys and gradually dealt with that as the half went on.

“In the second half we cut their supply out completely and as a result we got on top of the game. We took control but possibly at times we were trying to walk the ball in, or Mark Gamble and Michael Charles decided to take an extra touch rather than get the shot away.

“Then at other times, like with Mark and Darren’s chances they could have had a touch and steadied themselves but they ended up snatching it.

“But I can’t knock them to be honest because they worked so hard, as they have done for the last four or five games. The boys did well today — we stepped up our performance and we showed that we can compete with a side from this level once again.”

Burton’s return to the side was one of three changes for Boro, with Wheeler replacing Ciardini and David Ray fit again to play at right back, with Leigh Rumbold suspended.

But it was the home side who started the stronger, putting Boro under pressure from the off. Moments before they took the lead on 14 minutes The Iron fired a warning shot when Mickey Shinn whipped in a cross and Danny Hockton’s effort brought the best out of Lyall Beazley in the Boro goal.

Beazley was in action seconds later, saving superbly from another Hockton header with ex-Farnborough Town man Chris Piper the provider, but Hawes was quickest to react in the box and he forced home the opener.

As Boro struggled to get a foothold in the game the home side continued to press, with Gareth Williams firing across goal, and a Michael Charles header that flashed wide was as close as Boro got.

Neither Charles or strike partner Gamble had much to feed on, and the home side were dominant in midfield, but as half time approached Boro did have a spell of pressure, and that eventually produced the equaliser.

Wheeler took his corner short to Michael Barima who managed to swivel and lift a cross into the area where Burton was waiting to power home a header despite the efforts of the Braintree man on the line.

The goal clearly lifted Boro’s confidence after the break, perhaps proving to them that they could match their hosts and the Charles/Gamble axis up front began to click into gear. Charles was just denied as he raced onto Gamble’s clever flick, and from the resulting corner, Burton’s header was easily saved.

Charles then turned provider for Gamble after 64 minutes, his superb touch putting Gamble clear. He had to shake off the attentions of Joe Bruce, who may well have been in trouble had the Boro striker gone down. Gamble was perhaps too honest, and having got through he sliced his shot wide of the goal.

That was Boro’s best chance to grab a winner, but minutes later they had another sight of goal, when the ball fell to Wheeler but he could only snatch at his volley despite having time to bring it under control.

Marcus Richardson entered the fray and had a good impact from the bench, his power unsettling the Braintree backline, and his low cross picked out Charles. He rolled the ball back to substitute Nic Ciardini, who fired his shot into the side netting.

As the game entered injury time Boro forced a couple of late corners, but Braintree dealt with them and the game ended in stalemate.

So, the two sides will resume battle at Cherrywood Road tomorrow and after such a positive display at Cressing Road, Boro will fancy their chances of knocking out The Iron on their own patch.

Boro’s ranks will be boosted by the return of combative midfielder Rumbold and Doyle at the back, both from suspension. Doyle is back in the nick of time with Burton’s injury almost certain to keep him out of the game.

Braintree will also welcome back a suspended player, with the influential Louis Riddle available again after missing Saturday’s opening act.

With confidence high however, Vines was quick to warn his side that they must match the same level of performance, and have the same attitude, as they did on Saturday if they are to progress to the first round proper.

“I fancied our chances of getting a result today, so of course I feel we can win on Tuesday,” he said. “We have Doyley and Rummy coming back into the side as well which will be a boost.

“But what we mustn’t do now is go away and think we can just go out and beat them easily. Because there’s a difference between thinking you can win and going out and doing it. They have to work as hard as they did today and then have that bit of extra quality to win it."

Braintree: Holloway, Burgess, Jones, Bruce (Parker 67), Roget, Quinton, Shinn, Piper, Williams (O'Sullivan 86), Hockton (Marks 69), Hawes.

Boro: Beazley, Ray, Oliver, Woozley, Burton (Ciardini 54), Laidler, Scott, Barima, Wheeler, Gamble (Richardson 79), Charles.

For player ratings and more reaction from Vines, pick up a copy of Tuesday's Farnborough News.