A late penalty at the Rare Breed Meat Co. Stadium saw Braintree Town secure a crucial 1-0 victory against FC Halifax Town, ending their seven-match winless run and lifting them two places to 19th in the table. The match was a tense, cagey affair throughout, with both sides struggling to create clear-cut opportunities. The first half saw few chances and a growing sense of frustration, reflected in the flurry of yellow cards shown to Halifax’s Jack Evans in the 37th minute for a foul, followed swiftly by Braintree’s Kyrell Lisbie and Callum Powell before the break.
The second half continued in a similar vein, with neither side able to establish a foothold in the game. Halifax Town manager Chris Millington sought to change the dynamic, introducing Andrew Oluwabori and later Adan George in an attempt to find a breakthrough. Braintree Town responded with their own substitutions, bringing on Inih Effiong and John Akinde. These changes proved decisive, injecting fresh impetus into the Braintree attack.
Just as the match seemed destined for a goalless draw, drama unfolded in the 90th minute. A Braintree attack earned them a penalty, presenting substitute Inih Effiong, who had only been on the pitch for 25 minutes, with a golden opportunity. Effiong coolly converted the spot-kick, sending the home supporters into delirium and dealing a cruel blow to Halifax, who had defended resolutely for much of the encounter. Despite a late surge from the visitors in search of an equaliser, Braintree held firm to secure a valuable three points. The defeat saw Halifax Town drop one place to 10th, despite being unbeaten in their previous five matches. This fixture marked the first league meeting between the two sides in three seasons.