QUINTON ON THE BRINK AS SPITFIRES BLAST OFF
BRAINTREE TOWN 1 EASTLEIGH 2
UNDER-FIRE Braintree Town boss Brad Quinton kept his players locked in the dressing room after this latest defeat that keeps his side bottom of the table.
Frustrated Quinton was scathing of his side’s performance, sparking some suggestions last night that he had stepped down as manager as he left a wet Cressing Road.
First-half goals from Paul McCallum and Chris Zebroski put Eastleigh in firm control and despite a late consolation from Mo Bettamer, the Iron didn’t really look like pegging the Spitfires back.
“Again we conceded two sloppy firsthalf goals through individual mistakes but had enough chances to have come in level,” Quinton said.
“I’m really disappointed because I felt we were the better side for most of the game, had more shots on their goal than they did on ours and should have won.
“The second half we again created the more chances, pulled one back and then missed two glorious chances to have equalised.”
In contrast, Eastleigh were celebrating a fourth successive win and boss Andy Hessenthaler added: “It was a scrappy game and it’s always a difficult place to come and they are at the bottom fighting for points.
“We needed to keep our momentum going and we can now keep looking up and I know there’s a long way to go but the aim is to reach the play-offs.”
The home certainly started the stronger but after four decent chances went begging, they were caught out on 15 minutes – McCallum left unmarked in the area to poke home. Bettamer almost levelled for the Iron soon after with a fine free-kick from the edge of the area which produced a fine save from visiting keeper Max Stryjeg. Three minutes later new Iron striker Jake Cass raced clear through on goal only to curl his shot inches wide of an upright. But on 37 minutes the Iron were caught with a sucker punch when the visitors quickly broke from defence, Zebroski ran on to a through ball and rounded home keeper Ben Killip to slide it into the net. The second half again saw the Iron pressing well and they were finally rewarded on 72 minutes when Bettamer headed in at the far post. Six minutes later they should have equalised when a Lyle Della-Verde shot was only parried by Stryjek before falling to the feet of Cass, but he was caught wrong-footed and a grateful Stryjek managed to grab the ball at the second attempt. The Iron pushed hard for an equaliser in the dying moments but again chances went begging to spell another defeat for the beleaguered home side – one that might just prove to be a step too far for Quinton. STAR MAN: Mark Yeates (Eastleigh) ATT: 418 ENTERTAINMENT: ★★★★★ REFEREE: Alan Dale 5/10