HOSPITAL DASH REAPS REWARDS FOR HAKAN
IN a battle of the two basement teams it was Braintree Town who ran out winners to secure their first three points at home this season to lift them off the bottom of the league.
It was the ideal tonic for Iron caretaker manager Hakan Hayrettin who had discharged himself from hospital in the morning so he could be at Cressing Road to be in charge for this crucial six-pointer.
“It’s certainly the best tonic I could have because all the players were fantastic in the way they showed their pace and commitment throughout forcing the visitors on the back foot for long periods,” Hayrettin said. “Their workrate was tremendous and I am proud of them.
“Even when they equalised I knew the boys would not drop their heads and keep working and playing as we had up to then, and in the end we gained our just rewards.”
In contrast, Whites boss Andy Hessenthaler stayed tight-lipped and clearly angry with his new charges, simply adding: “I don’t want to talk about it and I’ve no other comment to make other than we clearly still have a lot of hard work to do to get us out of trouble.”
The Iron gave a debut to 19-year-old on-loan striker Virgil Gomis from Nottingham Forest and twice in each half he was unlucky not have put his put his name on the scoresheet, while both Justin Amaluzar and Reece Grant also fired in tremendous efforts, well saved by Dover keeper Mitch Walker. It was Amaluzar who gave the Iron the lead on 13 minutes, heading in a right wing corner at the near post. Dover starting to penetrate the home defence in the second half with long balls into the area and their route one tactic finally paid off on 68 minutes when one such ball was met at the far post by Kevin Lokko to head home the equaliser. The Iron, without their injured keeper Ben Killip and defender Dave Nieskins, held firm though with the central defensive pairing of Joe Ellul and Kodi Lyons-Foster outstanding. And the high pressing game by the Iron paid dividends 12 minutes from time when the on-rushing Lyle DellaVerde raced through on to a fine pass into the Athletic area and was brought down by keeper Walker. Up stepped Grant to drive the ball into the net from the spot and the restore his side’s lead. Dover threw players forward in a last-ditch effort to fine a second equaliser, but the home side deservedly held on. Delighted Hayrettin managed to find the energy to thank his players out on the pitch before hurrying off back to hospital where he awaits an operation for the removal of kidney stones.