Braintree Town face a major test as they prepare to host National League South leaders Maidstone United. The fixture presents a chance for the Iron to make up ground on the team nine points above them in the table.
Angelo Harrop's side go into the match sitting 18th in the division with 10 points from their opening eight games. Their recent form has been mixed, with three wins and two losses from their last five outings, a sequence that reads LWWWL. The most recent of those results was a 3-2 defeat away to Billericay Town last weekend.
That loss followed a significant 2-1 victory over this weekend's opponents, Maidstone, just days earlier. Aaron Matthews scored both goals in that win, including a 79th-minute penalty, before a late consolation spot-kick for the visitors.
This rematch offers Braintree an immediate opportunity for redemption and to prove that previous result was no fluke. A positive performance against the league's top side would provide a substantial boost ahead of their next fixture, a trip to ninth-placed Dorking Wanderers on 26 September. Fans can check the full schedule on the club's fixtures page and see how the table looks in the standings.
The team will need to tighten up defensively, having conceded 18 goals so far this season while scoring 13. Harrop will be looking for a more resilient display to build a platform for points.
Background and full detail: kentonline.co.uk
