U's defeated at the Amlin Stadium
DAN Sparkes scored the only goal of the game as the U's were defeated 1-0 at Braintree Town this evening.
The hosts had the best of the early chances, Laurent and Mensah both missing chances to open the scoring. Andy Pugh came close for the U's, along with Ryan Bird, who's glancing header was saved well by Hamann in the Braintree goal.
On the stroke of half-time Ryan Bird saw his penalty appeal waved away by the referee and the teams went in for the break all square.
HT: Braintree 0-0 U's
The U's started the second-half on the front foot forcing a few early corners and Ryan Bird was inches away from giving United the lead when Luke Berry's flick on found him in space at the back post, but he couldn't get enough contact on the ball to steer it past Hamann.
It was the hosts who grabbed the advantage on 67 minutes, Mensah working well down the left and playing in Sparkes who fired low past Norris in to the bottom right hand corner of the net.
United pushed for a leveller, Liam Hughes hit the upright and Ashley Chambers was denied by a last-ditch interception.
The Iron had chances to increase their lead, hitting the post with Norris beaten. The U's threw everyting forward in the final few minutes but couldn't find the equaliser.
FT: Braintree 1-0 U's
TEAM: Norris, Roberts, Bonner, Coulson, Taylor, Champion, Berry (Gillies, 56), Hughes, Pugh (Chambers, 50), Bird, Barnes-Homer (Arnold, 65).
Not Used: Sullivan, Tait.