MAIDENHEAD UNITED 0 BRAINTREE TOWN 1

IN A match of poor quality but high stakes, rockbottom Braintree Town out-fought their survival rivals Maidenhead United to claim a fourth win of their National league campaign.

It was the Magpies who were expected to take the upper hand having come off the back of an exhilarating 4-3 victory over Aldershot Town on Boxing Day, but the Iron, who had lost 4-2 at Ebbsfleet, produced a tireless performance.

Hakan Hayrettin’s side chased and harried with more determination than their hosts, were quick to close down, growing into the contest as the Magpies struggled to find any cohesion.

However, the hosts had their moments and could have taken the lead with barely a minute on the clock, but Nana Owusu failed to connect with an Adrian Clifton flick-on when six yards out from goal.

Josh Kelly finished well a few minutes later, but his strike was disallowed for offside after which it was the visitors who seemed most likely to open the scoring.

Justin Amalazor drove wide, while recent acquisition Oscar Borg and Joe Ellul tested Magpies keeper Carl Pentney before the pacy Callum Morton engineered a one-on-one situation with Pentney who saved with his foot.

The Iron maintained their threat in the second half while the Magpies’ search for fluency failed to bear fruit.

The match then turned when Lyle Della Verde saw his powerful drive from 25 yards deflected for a corner, which he then delivered to the edge of the six yard area for Cameron James to drill in a header.

Morton nearly capped a fine solo performance with a goal, but his effort was pouched by Pentney on the line as Braintree continued to press for a second.

The Magpies had one gilt-edged opportunity minutes from time to pocket a point when Ryan Bird’s scuffed shot rolled into the path of Barnet loanee Dave Tarpey four yards from goal.

But his side-footed effort was expertly saved by fit-again goalkeeper Ben Killip.

It was a first win since Hayrettin was appointed permanent manager last month against a side managed by Alan Devonshire, a former Braintree boss.