So my FA Cup journey took me to The New Den and Braintree Town‘s latest attempt to create more history as they took on League One side Millwall for a place in the coveted Third Round Proper and a chance to mix it with the big boys.
The Irons had already created history by reaching this stage of the competition but were in no mood to see it end here on a lovely crisp sunny December afternoon. Town had of course dispatched Bromley and Eastbourne Borough in previous rounds, both at home, but this was always going to be a much tougher task against a side who are hovering just outside the league one play off places.
However backed by 300 plus Iron’s behind one of the goals making plenty of noise the underdogs were certainly not short of passionate support. And the first quarter hour saw each side with a chance, Town heading wide early on whilst the Lions thumped an effort just wide from outside the area. It had been a fairly even start to this cup tie though.
And then in the 16th minute came a moment of magic for the visitors as they took a shock lead when striker Michael Cheek burst through some rather powerpuff Millwall defending to thump a brilliant effort into the top corner of the hosts net and send them and their travelling supporters wild. However the term ‘your at your most vulnerable when you have just scored’ was no more apparent here as straight from the restart Millwall levelled when Harry Smith side footed a cross home to settle down the hosts nerves rather.
The next ten minutes or so saw the League One hosts pounce on sloppy play from the National League visitors and in the 21st minute found themselves in front when after Braintree had failed to clear a corner, Smith was on hand to thump the loose ball home, and then four minutes later sloppy play allowed Shane Ferguson the freedom of The New Den and he duly drilled an effort into the far corner and you feared the game was getting away from the underdogs at this point.
However to their credit the visitors rallied and in the 34th minute pounced on a defensive slip to see Jack Midson bearing down on goal and he kept his cool to slot home inside the near post and Town were right back in this contest once again. They finished the half strongly too and had chances to level the tie before the break but couldn’t find the net so saw the hosts go into the half time break with a very fragile lead indeed and a rather unimpressed home crowd letting them know as they walked off too!!!
Half Time Millwall 3 Braintree Town 2
Braintree Town’s boss Hakan Heyrettin’s team talk at half time probably went along the lines of ‘lets keep it tight first fifteen minutes of second period and maybe nick a goal along the way’ however this was blown out the window two minutes into the half as sloppy defending from Town saw the ball fall to Smith six yards out and he duly netted for his hat-trick and Millwall’s fourth. It was a blow to Town who now had a two goal deficit to make up.
However they did not let this deter them and for the next twenty odd minutes dominated proceedings and had three or four really good openings to pull goals back, the best of those falling to Cheek whose close range volley was well kept out by Millwall keeper Jordan Archer. Millwall’s only attack in that period almost yielded a fourth from Smith, who headed inches wide, but it was pretty much all Braintree but they just could not find that net.
This obviously took a lot out of the National League side and as the game entered its final twenty minutes Millwall began to get a lot more possession as they began to wind that clock down and try and retake control of this contest although of course they still had that 4-2 lead.
Braintree kept trying to get forward as much as possible but time was now against them and it was looking more and more likely they would be picked off on the counter, and with pretty much the last kick of the contest the Lions roared one more time to finally kill off the Iron’s challenge when Aiden O’Brien tapped in from close range to put a rather harsh looking scoreline on proceedings for the visitors.
Indeed 5-2 was flattering for the hosts who knew they had been in a contest here but ultimately the League One’s finishing was better on the day as they capatilsed on any lapses served up to them. However Braintree Town can be mighty proud of what they achieved and no doubt left South Londonwith their heads held high.
Full Time Millwall 5 Braintree Town 2
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