Braintree 3- 1 Hemel Hempstead

Full Time at Braintree and its a disappointing defeat with manager Mark Jones admitting it is tough going at the moment with six players missing from his starting line up. His cause wasn’t helped when skipper Godfrey Poku limped off in the warm up before the start of the game. The Tudors conceded halfway through the first period but equalised right on half time through Ogo Obi. With the sides going in level at the break it was always going to be important to keep a clean sheet in the second period but some poor defending allowed the home side to take an early lead and they added a third with an almost carbon copy break down the right that just wasn’t dealt with. Bayley Brown had smashed a header against the bar just before Braintree got their third and it’s all about those fine margins as an equaliser would have given the Tudors some impetus, but it wasn’t to be and we go again on Saturday.