Jason Prior scored a hat trick of penalties for the Hawks as they defeated Braintree Town 3-1 at Cressent Road in the Vanarama National League South. The Hawks went into the game looking to reverse a barren league run which seen them without a league victory since beating Gloucester City on September 9th.
In a first half of limited opportunities the Hawks would have the first one of those ten minutes in as Tarbuck’s right hand side cross is put into Jason Prior who tried a first time volley which went wide of goal. On 16 minutes Theo Lewis carved an opportunity out of nothing as he wins the ball before crossing the ball in but was cleared by the home defence denying Jason Prior an effort on goal. Moments later a ball crossed in by Rory Williams with the Braintree defender deflecting the ball back to Nathan McDonald in the Braintree goal who only saw the ball at the last minute stopping a potential own goal. All that within the opening 20 minutes.
Prior to the half hour mark Jordan Rose’s back post header from a corner is directed wide of the goal. But it would take until 35 minutes before Braintree has their opening chance of note as after 34 minutes a free kick into the penalty area is headed wide by Obamwonyi. Seconds later the Hawks looked again to take the lead as roles reversed as Prior teed up Lewis at the far post who hit the side netting with his effort. And just before half time Williams effort from the right hand side fizzles over into the housing estate behind the goal.
HALF TIME: Braintree Town 0-0 Hawks
Within three minutes of resumption Wes Fogden is brought down in the penalty are with referee Lloyd Wood pointing to the penalty spot. Up stepped Jason Prior who slotted it into the bottom left to give the Hawks the lead and break the record of scoring in 7 consecutive Hawks matches. Minutes after the Hawks almost doubled their lead as Lewis heads a ball from a free kick across the frame of goal with Woodford then heading the ball over.
But on 53 minutes the Hawks had penalty number 2 of the second half as this time Jason Prior brought to ground in the penalty area. Up stepped Prior again to slot home the penalty into the bottom left again in what was almost a replica of his first penalty 5 minutes earlier. But the second penalty success for prior seemed to have stoked Braintree up as they started to control the game for a short spell. Their first attack in that purple patch fell to Crook who’s header could only find the gloves of Ryan Young.
But within a minute of that Braintree would reduce the arrears to one as Braintree break finding Barrington who slots home from just outside the penalty area.
With a quarter of an hour remaining Theo Widdrington came on for the Hawks with him trying to make an impact on the game straight away as he tries a shot from distance but went well wide of the mark.
With just over 10 left in the game the Hawks would wind staggering third penalty of the afternoon as Wes Fogden is fouled again in the penalty area and guess who stepped up? Yes, that man Jason Prior who this time went straight down the middle to score a hattrick of penalties an unprecedented feet for any Hawk and most footballer altogether.
With the Hawks leading once more by two, they would ensure that Braintree would not have a sniff for the final ten minutes with some passing play and keeping the ball in the corners to ensure that they left the high flying Essex side with all 3 points in the bag, which they ultimately did.
FULL TIME: Braintree Town 1-3 Hawks
The Hawks’ dominance on the road continued with the Iron paying the price. Next up for Lee Bradbury’s men is the trip to Hungerford Town next Saturday with the game being their 7th away game in 7 weeks in all competitions.
Henry Deacon
Henry Deacon Media 