Braintree Town advanced in the National League Cup with a dramatic 2-1 victory over Fulham under-21s at Cressing Road. A spectacular late strike from Alexander-Leonard Bolovan nine minutes from time settled the tie for The Iron.
This cup success provides a welcome boost for a side currently 20th in the National League South, having taken seven points from their opening six league games. Their next league fixture is a Boxing Day trip to face Chelmsford City, who sit 16th.
Manager Steve Pitt made several changes to his starting eleven, giving opportunities to fringe players following the weekend's league action. Braintree Town started brightly and created a number of clear chances in the first half. Their pressure told in the 18th minute when Vladimir Paternoster found the net to give the hosts the lead.
The young Fulham side fought back after the interval and managed to equalise just past the hour mark. The game looked to be heading for a potential penalty shootout until Bolovan intervened. His fast flowing and highly entertaining strike in the 81st minute secured the win for Braintree Town in front of a crowd of 199.
Steve Pitt was pleased with his team's performance and felt they merited the victory. "I think we fully deserved it on the night and played some fine, attacking and aggressive football and I am only disappointed we didn’t win by a bigger margin," Pitt told reporters. The manager's comments highlight a positive attacking display, even if the finishing could have been more clinical.
The win offers a different kind of momentum as the club handle a challenging start to the league campaign, where they have scored nine goals but conceded 14. The immediate focus now shifts back to the National League South. Braintree Town's next match is at home to league leaders Maidstone United this Saturday at 3pm. That contest presents a significant challenge, with The Iron currently 12 points behind the table-toppers. Fans can view the full schedule of upcoming games on the club's fixtures page.
While Bolovan and Paternoster took the headlines with their goals, Pitt's decision to rotate his squad allowed other players to stake a claim for more regular involvement. The manager will be assessing his options carefully ahead of the Maidstone fixture. For a complete look at the players available to Pitt, the official squad list provides detailed information. Braintree Town host Maidstone United at Cressing Road on Saturday afternoon.
