GAFFNEY HAILS AS AMMIES’ SAVIOUR
Proud Hayrettin hails Braintree warriors despite Salford point
CARETAKER boss Hakan Hayrettin was justifiably proud of his Braintree side as they came agonisingly close to beating league leaders Salford City.
A Rory Gaffney strike deep into injury side rescued the Ammies’ unbeaten record after a brace from Mo Bettamer had put the Irons ahead.
Hayrettin took over midweek following Brad Quinton’s dismissal and said: “We are pleased to get a result away to the league leaders – I take immense pride from that.
“Now we have to keep working hard and see where that takes us. At this level we’re a small club but we’ve proved today we can play well. I thought we deserved to win.”
Braintree’s afternoon got off to the worst possible start when they fell behind in the very first minute.
Mark Shelton’s ball over the top dropped over the Irons defence and Gaffney was on hand to poke home.
Salford sat back a little after going ahead and were soon under pressure from a Braintree side who would work ferociously hard all afternoon.
Town went close after Lyle Della Verde slipped a pass through for Bettamer, who was denied by a brave block from Chris Neal.
Within a minute DellaVerde went close himself slamming in a 25-yarder that flew inches wide of Neal’s right-hand upright.
Salford took a while to settle down but Scott Wiseman’s effort from the right had to be pushed onto the crossbar by Irons’ keeper Ben Killip.
Both sides created a few half-chances before Town got a leveller.
In the last minute of the half, DellaVerde’s corner from the right was headed on in the box and Salford defender Ibou Touray was adjudged to have handled, with referee Leigh Doughty pointing to the spot.
In front of the home fans, Bettamer kept his cool to slot a perfect penalty low inside the keeper’s lefthand post.
It was a deserved equaliser and Braintree set out their stall to frustrate after the interval.
Salford struggled to find any rhythm against opponents who scrapped for every ball and looked dangerous on the break. Killip denied Tom Walker with a brave stop on the hour and the keeper did well to push a stinging Gaffney effort around the post. With 17 minutes left an increasingly confident Braintree side took the lead after Reece Grant broke swiftly before nudging a pass to the left. The Irons’ frontman had been a constant threat and here he advanced into the box before placing a great finish beyond Neal and inside the far post.
The travelling support almost had more to celebrate 3 minutes later after Grant pushed forward before floating in a 35-yard effort that bounced back off the crossbar.
Braintree looked capable of shutting Salford out after that, but luck turned away from them three minutes into time added on.
Home substitute Devante Rodney’s shot from the right
was blocked and Gaffney swept a low finish past Killip.
Salford manager Graham Alexander was pleased with his players’ efforts to rescue a point. “I think scoring so early may have been counter-productive. We lost focus and learned a sharp lesson about the nature of this league.
“I was pleased we found the character to dig out a result despite not being at our best.”
STAR MAN: Rory Gaffney (Salford City) ATT: 2,710 ENTERTAINMENT: ★★★★★ REFEREE: Leigh Doughty 7/10