It's a long way to fucking Braintree, its a long way to go....

You maybe wondering on the reason of the title, well for City's visit to Braintree Town in Essex, I decided to stay with a friend in Putney, London on the assumption that it shouldn't take long to get to Essex from London. Normally this would be correct, but cometh the weekend cometh rail engineering works...ahhh fuck this might take some time!

Ingatestone, lovely in the autumn!

So having changed at Newbury Park tube, it was rail replacement bus to Ingatestone (see above!) then train to Braintree and we arrive at 12:15 a whole four hours after leaving London! At which point we see a bagpipe band playing " It's a Long Way to Tipperary" which was quickly adapted to the blogs title!

Bagpipes!

Braintree was actually a tad nicer than expected, and landlady of The Boars Head was very friendly and some very well kept Adnams Southwold Bitter were sunk before we noticed there was a Braintree Ale, so we obviously stayed for another to sample that in the unseasonably strong and lovely October sunshine.

Feeling refreshed after the beer we set off in search of the Cressing Road (although it sadly seems to have been sponsored to Amlin Stadium) and search is defintiely the right word, now allthrough the non-league there are occasions where a small, out of the way, unsupported clubs ground is hard to find, but nothing compares to Braintree via asked for directions, some maps and a smart phone we found ourselves walking down a residential street with no sign of life or football, however, continue and turn into a cul-de-sac and at the bottom is the ground, very odd!

Hardest ground to find in England, fact!

Cressing Road is a proper non league ground, small terraces, very small bit of seating and where you are inches away from the pitch when standing at the front. There was a very small contingent of City fans for two main reasons, one as it may have been pointed out elsewhere it's a long way to Braintree, and two City have played there previously so most couldn't be bothered making the trip. However, we chatted to a few and made our way around to the Clubhouse End and ascended the small terrace to watch the end the stripes were attacking.

And unbelieveably for the third game in a row City took the lead! Two minutes in a freekick was awarded and the trademarked Gethin Jones ghosting to the back post routine was used, and again no one picked him up and his header looped over the keeper and into the back of the net. City pressed forward again searching for another goal, when on 19 Braintree struck back through Ben Wright with a curling effort...at which point the wheels fell off. City suddenly couldn't pass to another stripe, had no width, penetration or imagination, and it got worse...

Charlie Clough went up to win a defensive header and I can only assumed landed akwardly as suddenly the big man was hobbling, stupidly/sportingly (delete as you see fit) the man mountain hobbled to the sidelines before throwing himself to the floor off the pitch. While City were down to 10 Braintree won a corner, which was of course not cleared meaning 2-1 Braintree. Jimmer came on for the injured Clough and Lee Phillips was once again this season bleeding from a head wound and he looked furious when leaving the pitch at half time.

We wandered to the far side and hung the Bradford on Avon City Loyal flag and chatted to Chairwoman Manda while waiting the teams return. Lee came back on with his head wrapped in what looked like a turban, the man is a trooper I've never seen so many injuries to one head! Marley Watkins had come on to replace Sekani Simpson and we reverted to a more orthodox 442. However, before Marley had a chance to make an impact Braintree increased their lead with a crossed freekick and headed finish. 3-1 game over, it seems.

However, with Marley on the pitch City had pace and trickery and a bit of width that had been sorely missing, and were creating chances. Chances and corners were clocking up and Andy Gallinagh almost scored twice, one which seemed destined for the net on 70 mins but a brilliant save by McDonald who somehow managed to push it around the post.

But from the resulting corner Watkins leapt highest in the middle of the goal, and his powerful downwards header went through the keepers legs, we have a bit of hope! City kept at it, and had a shot brilliantly blocked from Watkins as Braintree started throwing their bodies on the line. With 4 minutes of injury time there was one last throaty urge from the City fans who were again thinking it will not be our day.

 However, with literally seconds of the added time remaining the ball broke halfway in their half to Gethin Jones who pinged a ball over to the left, Paul Stonehouse leapt high in the air and somehow pulled the ball out of the air with his left foot before driving towards the goalline, he was held up by Peters who was trying to sheppard out of play a ball that was never going out, out of nowhere Marc Canham appeared on the scene and after a scramble he crossed the ball in from just inside the pitch to an unmarked Lee Phillips who headed home! The City fans errupted, Shane ran the width of the pitch, I jumped for joy Sean Canham highfived every away fans as a delirious pile on of Lee continued! How City snatched a draw from defeat God only knows, but if the fighting spirit of last year has returned then we might have a chance!