A disappointing performance from Dartford cemented their place in the relegation zone of the Vanarama Premier.
Dartford came into the game looking to continue their good form after their 3-1 win at Wrexham the previous week as they looked to take advantage of the busy Christmas period; 4 points from safety, they had a chance to reduce the gap when 16th placed Braintree came to Princes Park.
Tony Burman only made one change from the Darts side who came away from North Wales with three points, this came in Defence with Nathan Collier taking the place of the injured Callum Driver whilst Lee Burns started on the bench after taking six weeks to recover from an injury.
The first incident of the game occurred with seven minutes gone in the game when Tom Bender failed to control a long throw in, result in in the ball hitting the defender’s arm. Despite diving the right way, Dartford ‘keeper Jason Brown was unable to keep out Charlie Strutton’s low penalty kick.
The tempo of the game was decided between the two teams within the opening minutes with six dangerous challenges occurring in the opening fifteen minutes, the first of which left Tom Bradbrook with a bloody nose but the Dartford target man was able to play on.
Dartford quickly looked to get back into the game, from a corner which Braintree were unable to defend the ball came to Peter Sweeny on the right side where he layed the ball off to Luke Daley whose deflected shot was finally cleared away.
Both teams continued to look forward for attacking opportunities, after James Mulley’s header flew over a quick counter from the Darts concluded in Tom Bradbrook being able to turn and shoot but his effort was blocked by Braintree’s Sam Habergham.
At half time approached the game remained reasonably quiet; a tackle from Tom bender turned into a shot when the ball hit his leg sending it flying towards Nick Hamann which the goalkeeper was able to hold; that was the best chance for the hosts in the first half as they went into half time 1-0 down.
Dartford began the second half as the better team but, despite keeping possession well, they were forced into using long final balls which the Braintree defence could easily clear away.
Braintree finally came forward again on 59 minutes and it took a great save from Jason Brown to prevent a second goal, Charlie Strutton did well to hold up play to allow his team mates to push forward and create space before passing the ball into space for James Mulley who beat two Darts defenders and hit a high shot which Brown acrobatically tipped over; the hosts came close to doubling their lead again moments later when a quick run down the left wing gave Simeon Akinola a chance to hit a shot across goal which Brown was able to watch fly wide.
Dartford had another chance to equalise halfway through the second half when a corner whipped in by Ryan Hayes was dropped by Hamann in the Braintree goal before the goalkeeper finally recovred the ball in the middle of a bundle of bodies.
The visitors had a chance to take advantage of Dartford’s inability to score when, from a long ball Sean Marks powerfully chested the ball into the path of James Mulley but the midfielder fired his shot over.
Their pressure continued when a through ball fell to marks in the penalty area but a great stop from Jason Brown kept the game level. Brown wasn’t able to do anything about his next call to action as the goalkeeper was left with little space to move when Chez Isaac’s corner fell onto the head of Akinola and the winger was able to convert to double his side’s lead.
The Iron wanted a penalty from the next corner as Matt Paine was pulled down within the six yard box but they were left frustrated when a free kick was given to Dartford instead.
The Darts were unable to gain any sort of momentum in the final few minutes, after Lee Noble curled a shot wide they were forced to sit back and ensure they would not give away another goal; however they nearly did when they conceded a free kick on the edge of the penalty area, Dan Sparkes received the short kick and powered a shot just over Jason Brown’s goal.
The visitors weren’t content with a two goal lead, at the begging of additional time a cross from the right was headed at goal at the far post where Jason Brown made a miraculous save to ensure the game would end 2-0.
Other results from around the league mean that this was not a terrible day for Dartford, they remain in 21st and four points from safety after Southport lost to Wrexham.
They now face the busiest time of the season with three games in eight days beginning with a long trip to the midlands to face Alfreton Town on Sunday before they travel to Essex and face Braintree again on New Year’s Day.
Dartford: Brown, Bender, McAuley, E Bradbrook, Noble, Daley (Hayes), Mitchel- King, Collier, Sweeney (Cornhill), Crawford (Harris), T Bradbrook
Subs not used: Burns, Ibrahim
Booked: E Bradbrook
Braintree Town: Hamann, Habergham, Isaac, Paine, Massey, Marks, Strutton (Sparkes), Akinola (Cox), Clermia, Peters, Mulley
Subs not used: Smith, Pentney
Booked: Paine, Strutton
Attendance: 1,201