BRAINTREE Town made progress in the Essex Senior Cup with a 1-0 win at Essex Senior League side Stanway Rovers, writes DAVID WARD.
A penalty midway through the second half ensured the current county cup champions progressed to the next round in a fast and entertaining game at the Hawthorns on Tuesday evening.
Understandably, Iron manager Angelo Harrop rested some of his first team players against a club he previously managed but there was still a side made up of six regulars who in fairness were made to work hard for their win.
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After a goalless first half the Iron stepped up the pace in the second half and they wasted several chances to have sewn the match up against a plucky home side who on this showing defied their lowly position in the Essex Senior League.
The deadlock was finally broken on 72 minutes when the veteran Michael Brothers was hauled down in the home area and up stepped Reggie Lambe to drive the spot-kick low into the net.
Braintree could have added to their single goal but some wasteful finishing and heroic defending denied them before the final whistle.
Late on in the game the Iron gave a first team debut to two youngsters - Mason Howart and Tom Adams - as the match concluded with the Iron well in command.
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