PREVIEW: Braintree Town v Luton Town

After an indifferent start to the season, Braintree have really started to pick up over the last few months to move within touching distance of the play-offs, writes Mike Simmonds.
Wayne Thomas before his red card at Braintree last seasonWayne Thomas before his red card at Braintree last season
Wayne Thomas before his red card at Braintree last season

The Iron began with three wins, three draws and three defeats from their opening nine games, but since then have stepped on the gas.

After a draw at Salisbury, Braintree then won their next four Conference matches, including a fine 3-2 triumph at Wrexham, before that was ended with a home defeat to Welling.

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They followed that up with two wins and three draws from their next five though, to make it just the one loss in their last 11 league and cup games.

The FA Cup has been a source of success for Alan Devonshire’s side too as they knocked out Weymouth before a 1-1 draw with League Two Newport County in the first round on Saturday, earning a trip to Kidderminster should they win the replay.

Since winning promotion to the Conference, Braintree have improved year on year, as they finished 12th in their first season and an impressive ninth last year.

They managed managed to keep hold of the majority of their squad during the summer too, losing just Kaine Sheppard, Ryan Watts and Nicky Symons.

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They moved to add too with Chez Isaac, Alan Massey, Liam Enver-Marum and Nick Hamann all joining.

Signing AFC Wimbledon striker Charlie Strutton on loan proved to be a fine acquisition too as although failing to net in his opening three games, he then scored four in three and bagged six in eight overall.

That form however saw him recalled by the Dons and he has played twice for them now.

Team news: Sam Habergham is a doubt with an ankle ligament injury, but Ryan Peters and Chez Isaac have both recovered from knocks and played against Newport on Saturday.

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Hatters expect both Andre Gray and Ronnie Henry to be fit, with Shaun Whalley and Anthony Charles available too, leaving just Alex Wall (hamstring), Jon Shaw (hernia) and Danny Fitzsimons (knee) out.

Top Skrill scorer - Iron: Charlie Strutton (6). Hatters: Luke Guttridge, Andre Gray (6).

Man in the middle: Justin Amey – tonight’s game will be the second time he has officiated Luton at Braintree, taking the 3-1 defeat back in April 2012.

Refereed six games so far this year, brandishing one red and 17 yellows.

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Took 14 Conference matches last season, refereeing Luton once in their 1-1 draw against Hereford at Kenilworth Road.

Also took four Braintree home matches last year as well, with the hosts winning one, drawing one and losing two matches.

In charge: Alan Devonshire – As a player, he signed for West Ham United for a fee of £5,000 from non-league Southall in 1976, going on to make almost 450 appearances for the Hammers, winning the FA Cup and winning eight caps for England.

His first managerial role was at Hampton & Richmond Borough in the Conference South, where he guided his team to the play-offs.

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Was then appointed Braintree boss on May 23, 2011 and has made the Iron into a highly competitive Conference side since.

View from the opposition: Boss Alan Devonshire: “It’s a big week all round and we’re expecting another big crowd on Tuesday for the Luton game.

“We have done well with crowds this season and I think the average is up.

“The Luton game should generate a big turnout as it will be third against sixth in the league between two reasonably local teams.”

Average home crowd: Iron: 1,049. Luton: 6,452.

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One to watch: Sean Marks. 27-year-old striker who is well known to Town as he scored in the 3-2 win for Braintree at Luton last term, plus the 2-0 home victory for the Iron too.

Also netted the season before when Braintree won 3-1, making it three goals in four games against Hatters for the forward.

This campaign hasn’t been the most prolific as he only scored once in his opening seven games, before bagging three in four but has not scored in his last three league matches.

Friendly faces: Newman Carney – young defender came through the youth ranks at Kenilworth Road and made two first team appearances before he was released after a falling out with former manager Paul Buckle.

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Joined Dunstable Town, but then moved to Braintree at the start of the campaign and has made one league start and five substitute appearances so far, while also starting in the 1-1 FA Cup draw with Newport on Saturday.

We’ve got form: Luton have a terrible record at Cresssing Road, losing both of their previous visits there.

They have never had a permanent manager in the dug out either, as their first visit, a 3-1 defeat, was with Paul Buckle in the stands, while both John Still and Terry Harris were onlookers last season.

In fact the Iron have been something of a bogey team for Town, winning three out of their four encounters so far.

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Last time out: Hatters were yet again left tasting defeat at Braintree last season after turning in another desperately poor performance.

The hosts were reduced to 10 men on 21 minutes when Matthew Paine was sent off, but Wayne Thomas soon followed him 13 minutes later for an alleged elbow.

Sean Marks then put the Iron ahead just before half time, before a goal after the interval from Kenny Davis completed the victory.

Hatters: Mark Tyler, Lathaniel Rowe-Turner (Greg Taylor 46), Steve McNulty, Wayne Thomas, Ronnie Henry, Alex Lawless, Arnaud Mendy (Simon Ainge 61), Jonathan Smith, Scott Rendell (Scott Neilson 55), Stuart Fleetwood, Andre Gray.

Subs not used: Dean Brill, David Martin.

Attendance: 1,003.

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