Irow scores again but Under-21s bow out at Braintree

Our Under-21s' involvement in the National League Cup came to an end after a 3-1 defeat at Braintree Town on Wednesday night.

We went into the game at Cressing Road knowing we'd need to win by at least four goals and for Nottingham Forest Under-21s' result against Sutton United next month to go our way if we were to progress from the group stage.

But a first-half brace from our former Academy midfielder Chay Cooper gave the hosts the advantage and although our young side gave it a real go in an improved display after the break - Oli Irow handing us a lifeline with his sixth goal in seven games - a late penalty from Kyrell Lisbie rounded off a 3-1 final scoreline as the hosts maintained their 100 per cent record in the competition and eliminated us after our four group stage fixtures, from which we amassed four points in total.

There were valuable match minutes for a range of players over the course of the game, James Rowswell starting for the first time this season after another lengthy injury setback while Jaden Williams and Tyrell Ashcroft were also back after spells on the sidelines. Under-18s players Calum Logan, Leon Myrtaj and Timi Adekunle made their debuts at this level off the bench in the second period.

In truth, we had more than enough chances to take something from the game - Williams, Max Robson, Max McKnight and Tyrese Hall all notably going close - but shipped too many opportunities at the other end, particularly in the first half. Williams could have put us ahead early on after picking the pocket of goalkeeper Henry Gray but couldn't find the target while Lisbie threatened twice for Braintree but found his route to goal blocked. Robson tested Gray on two occasions with low shots through a congested area, but it was the hosts who finally broke the deadlock on 28 minutes when Cooper produced a crisp finish into the far corner after Aaron Maguire had denied Jermaine Francis on the counter-attack.

Maguire was needed to thwart Tom Blackwell, Lisbie and Cooper in further opportunities for the Essex outfit but while Irow fired a sharp effort wide for us, Braintree continued to find openings and after Lisbie shot wide, Cooper netted his second on the stroke of half-time, cutting in off the right and curling inside the far post. His celebrations after both goals seemed muted, given his previous time in our colours.

We made changes at the break and looked brighter going forward, while managing to tighten up at the back. McKnight's shot crept wide while Hall only had the keeper to beat with time and space on his side at the far post, but Gray made a big block as we tried to claw our way back into the contest. Maguire advanced off his line to thwart Francis after he beat the offside trap at the other end, before we deservedly got off the mark with just under a quarter-of-an-hour remaining as Hall's cut-back from the left was prodded inside the near post by the in-form Irow. But when Maguire was adjudged to have brought down Lisbie in our box, the Braintree forward stamped out any hopes of a comeback by converting the resulting penalty with eight minutes remaining.

First-year Under-18s player Myrtaj went close in the latter stages, denied only by a fine tackle from behind by Francis while fellow substitute Leo Black saw his shot saved by Gray as he stormed through the middle and into the area. Hall pinged into the top corner with the last action of the game, but his effort was ruled out for handball in the build-up. It was a brave showing from our heavily-rotated side, but the National League outfit had done enough in the first half to take the points.

Match data

Goals: Braintree - Cooper 28, 45, Lisbie 82 (pen); Spurs - Irow 76.

Yellow cards: Braintree - Lisbie 69, Francis 90+1; Spurs - Andiyapan 63, McKnight 70.

Referee: Jason Richardson.

Venue: Cressing Road, Braintree.

Weather: Light cloud, gentle breeze, five degrees.

Attendance: 543.