Boro’ made it 5 wins in 6 league outings as they consolidated their mid table position with this fine victory over struggling Braintree Town at Cressing Road on Saturday, a result which goes a long way to proving the current depth of manager Edwin Stein’s squad.

A combination of injury, illness and suspension saw Boro’ starting the game without 8 potential First Team regulars with Richard Goddard, Phil Gridelet, Mekel Hackett, Clemente Lopez, Dean Marney, Perry Norman, Godfrey Torto and Wayne Walters all sidelined. Lopez was nominally named on the substitutes bench, whilst inform striker Pat Gavin was pressed into service in the back three as Boro’s resources were stretched to the limit.

The situation was made decidedly worse in the 85th minute with a head injury sustained by ‘keeper Matthew Ferguson, who had had a fine game, and he had to be replaced in the Boro’ goal by Mali International Keita Karamoko.

On a lively surface Braintree were the quicker to adapt and Burke shot over when well placed before Ferguson was called upon to save bravely after Culverhouse had beaten the offside trap.

As Boro’ settled they started to get into the game and Marvyn Watson, Dwain Clarke and James Osborn all went close with long range attempts. It was down both flanks however that Boro’ began to cause their hosts no little discomfort.

It was from such a foray down the right flank in the 36th minutes that Watson and Valenti combined to feed Dwain Clarke on the far left wing. The resultant cross was struck low across the face of the goal and Robert Charles was on hand to touch the ball home for the opening goal of the game.

Boro’ stepped up the pressure and Osborn brought a good save from Catley before Robert Charles got his name on the score-sheet again. With the half-time whistle beckoning good work by Fabio Valenti, a constant threat to the home defenders, saw him lose his marker and play a fine ball in to the young striker whose first time shot could only be helped into the net by the home custodian diving low to his left.

With a half time deficit to make up it was only to be expected that Braintree would take the game to their visitors from the start of the second period and for spells the Boro’ defence found itself under intense pressure. Matty Ferguson was tested on a number of occasions and was not found wanting, much to the frustration of the home supporters, whilst poor finishing too did not help the home cause - Riddle, Parratt (twice) and Waters all being guilty in this respect.

The pressure was not just one way however with Catley saving well from a Pat Gavin header and in a one-to-one situation after Robert Charles had been put through.

Boro’ needed a fresh pair of legs up front to take the game to their hosts and after 74 minutes Eseyas Yhdego was brought on for the tiring Robert Charles. The move initially seemed to backfire however as on 78 minutes Braintree reduced the deficit following a right wing corner. The kick taken by Dean Parratt was floated in to David Culverhouse who eluded his marker and headed home from close range.

It looked as if Braintree had fought themselves back into the game, but within 3 minutes Boro’ had restored the 2 goal lead. A move which started out wide on the left found its way to Fabio Valenti after Catley had saved well at full stretch. Valenti fed Ross Fitzsimon and the midfielder’s shot struck the underside of the crossbar only for the home supporters relief to be short-lived as James Osborn was on hand to head home from close range.

Yhdego went close to extending Boro’s lead before the flailing arm and the injury to Ferguson soured the proceedings. After lengthy treatment, during which time Boro’s custodian briefly lost consciousness, Keita Karamoko came on to replace his stricken colleague.

There was still time for an exciting finale with two goals coming in the resultant stoppage time.

Firstly, Eseyas Yhdego was brought down by a home defender in the penalty area. He picked himself up, requested politely the opportunity to take the penalty himself and then struck home the from the spot to increase Boro’s advantage.

Then with referee Toyer about to blow for full-time the Boro’ defence got itself into a tangle and Andy Porter was on hand to reduce the deficit.

All in all a satisfactory performance and result for Edwin Stein’s men and another strike at the critics who are so quick to decry their efforts.

  1 - Paul Catley
  2 - Brett Girling
  3 - Mark Jones
  4 - Ollie Blackwell
  5 - Gary Waters
  6 - Bradley Quinton
   (sub Jamie Richards 45)
  7 - David Culverhouse
  8 - Paul Cobb
  9 - Andy Burke
   (sub Andy Porter 45)
10 - Dean Parratt
11 - Louis Riddle