QUINTON: I’VE NEVER SEEN US SO POOR
A LITTLE more than 45 minutes earlier, Brad Quinton had gathered his Braintree Town players in the centre circle.
So incensed by their first-half performance against Hartlepool United on Tuesday night, Quinton couldn’t wait to deliver some home truths.
That they found themselves only one-goal down to Pools, who led through the excellent Niko Muir, was largely thanks to keeper Ben Killip.
The 22-year-old had kept out Liam Noble’s early penalty and made some other vital saves to keep the Iron in the game.
At the end of 90 minutes, Quinton had his players back around him with a point in the bag thanks to Mo Bettamer’s 95thminute strike that had snatched the victory away from a Hartlepool side who would have made the long trip home scratching their heads as to how they hadn’t won.
But it said a lot about Braintree who are in the guise of their boss, a club legend from his playing days thanks to his determinationand never-say-die attitude.
“My teams never give in, you rolls your sleeves up and you work hard – that’s all I ask for throughout the season, even in training,” Quinton said.
“That first-half was something I’ve never seen before – as a player, as a coach and now a manager. I was shocked and I felt ashamed with some of the performances. It won’t last with me.
“I let them know that on the pitch at half-time and then when we went in. There were strong words said by a lot of people. They need to shape up very quick.
“But, second-half, we improved, we weren’t as good as I expect but I was pleased that, all the way to the end, as a part-time team, we kept plugging away and plugging away. I’m pleased we got the goal.”
Quinton said he would have liked to have warmed up himself and made ten substitutions with only Killip emerging from the first 45 with real distinction in the boss’ eyes.
“He’s a fantastic asset for the club and one for the future,” Quinton said. “I absolutely adore the kid – the way he wants to train, the way he works, he’s second to none. He talks, he shouts, he moans and he talks a lot of sense. He’s a good player.”
The draw made it two points from Braintree’s opening four games as they returned to the National League after a season away.
Quinton left Enfield to take up the managerial reins this time last summer and guided the club back to Step 1 at the first attempt. How does he see their opening to the new campaign?
“Before tonight’s games, Halifax were top,” he said of their opening day opponents. “We played them at home and they scored from two corners. We went to Barnet and we matched them, we played some great football. Away at Chesterfield we matched them and dominated for long spells, but we made a mistake and got punished which you will at this level. The same against Hartlepool. But listen, we’ve got a point and fair play to the guys.
“It’s a tough opening against ex-League clubs but every single one of our guys has got to be wanting to play at this level weekin, week-out.
“I did it, I miss it. You have to really work hard otherwise I’ll go and find someone else.”