Alfie Matthews scored twice to lead Braintree Town to a 2-1 victory over league leaders Maidstone United. The win at Cressing Road on Saturday lifts the Iron to 18th in the National League South table, now on 10 points from eight games.
Matthews broke the deadlock in the 64th minute before converting a penalty 15 minutes later to double the advantage. Maidstone United pulled a goal back from the spot deep into added time through T. Leahy, but Braintree held on for a significant three points. Goalkeeper George Barrett was instrumental with an excellent save to preserve the lead during a late spell of pressure from the visitors.
The performance demonstrated the strength Braintree showed in attack and the aggression in midfield that has defined their recent form. The result adds Maidstone to the list of high-profile scalps taken by Angelo Harrop's side this season. Matthews was named the Supporters Club Man of the Match for his decisive contribution.
This win forms part of a mixed recent run for Braintree, with their last five results reading LWWWL. They followed this triumph with a narrow 3-2 defeat away to Billericay Town on Tuesday. Fans can also review the team's current standings and full squad list as the season progresses.
Background and full detail: Colchester Gazette
Maidstone United confirmed the details of their 2-1 defeat at Braintree Town. The club's official match report listed the scorers as Alfie Matthews in the 64th and 79th minutes, with T. Leahy's penalty coming in the 95th minute. Braintree's league standing is 18th in National League South, with 10 points from eight games. Their recent form is LWWLD, having followed the Maidstone win with a 3-2 loss at Billericay Town on September 15.
