Braintree Town's three-game winning run ended with a 3-2 defeat away to Billericay Town in the National League South. The loss leaves Braintree 18th in the table with 10 points from eight games, nine points behind leaders Maidstone United.
Charlie Ruff's stunning 35-yard lob just before half-time was the game's defining moment, giving Billericay a two-goal cushion they would not relinquish. The hosts had taken the lead in the 42nd minute when Alfie Cerulli nodded home after Ruff's free-kick came back off the woodwork.
Braintree started the second half brightly and pulled a goal back seven minutes after the restart. Afi Adebayo found the far corner to make it 2-1, offering the visitors a route back into the match. That hope was extinguished just past the hour mark, however, as Jon Benton restored Billericay's two-goal advantage with a strike from inside the box.
Michael Olarewaju's header from a corner in the final minute of normal time set up a tense finish, but Braintree could not find an equaliser. The result halts a positive sequence for the Iron, whose recent form had shown three wins and a draw from their last five outings.
You can review the team's upcoming schedule on our fixtures page, which includes a trip to ninth-placed Dorking Wanderers this Saturday. The current league standings show Braintree looking to climb from the lower half of the table after this setback.
Charlie Ruff, whose spectacular effort sealed the points, reflected on the strike. "It's one of those that you just hit and hope," the Billericay forward said.
Braintree must now regroup quickly for their next assignment away to Dorking Wanderers on 26 September.
Background and full detail: echo-news.co.uk
