Once the squad navigated the traffic of Witham they set off for Braintree, hoping for a repeat of the First team result earlier in the day.
A strong wind and chilly feel set the scene for this local rivalry and the game soon set into a pattern. Braintree 2’s winning the ball back and playing the ball from side to side to start most attacks. These were repelled well by the back three of Harry Glanvill, Dave Grainger and Tony Hicks with relative ease. Witham then started to get more of a foothold in the first half with good play down the wings from Eddie (the only player in last weeks report) and Ed Grainger. As the wind continued to blow like a big bad wolf, Braintree continued to huff and puff but were kept out well by important saves from M.O.M goalkeeper Sam Larbalestier. As the first half started to come to an end the Witham forward line started to get a few chances DJ Munro and Richard Dunnage were unlucky not to make a breakthrough. Scoreless at half time.
The second half started with a slight break in the clouds but the wind still howling. This only seemed to spur Braintree on as they attacked again and again before winning a short corner. Played to the top, slipped to the right and narrowly squeezed inside the post past the unlucky, once perfect keeper Larbalestier. 1 - 0.
The midfield trio of Tony Tredgett, Alan Warren and Craig Eardley patrolled the centre of the pitch well trying to contain Braintree’s passing game. Braintree
attacked again and won another short corner, slipped to the left this time and slotted to the right of the once perfect keeper Larbalestier. 2 - 0.
Witham tried hard to get back into the game with George Puckey and Samuel Cant putting in a good shift to try and create a spark for Witham. However Braintree won the ball back in midfield and attacked at pace leading to a smart save from the formerly perfect keeper Larbalestier however the waiting Braintree forward tucked in the rebound. 3 - 0.
Braintree had the wind in their sails and continued to attack with pace and towards the end of the game struck for a fourth time. A hard ball in took a touch off a Witham stick and fell kindly to the Braintree forward to tuck away another goal past the previously perfect keeper Larbalestier. 4 - 0.
The match ended and Witham had been blown away in the second half by the conditions and the Braintree team!
A hard match but over the two games Witham came out on top with an aggregate win for the weekend against the local rivals Braintree!