A late own goal from Paul McCallum snatched a dramatic 2-1 victory for Braintree Town against Eastleigh at the Silverlake Stadium. The match proved a captivating contest throughout, swinging between the two sides before culminating in late heartbreak for the home team.
Eastleigh took the lead in the 25th minute. A flowing move saw Dominic Gape slide a perfectly weighted pass to Tyrese Shade, who calmly finished, giving the Spitfires a deserved 1-0 advantage. Braintree, however, refused to be cowed. They gradually established a presence in midfield, disrupting Eastleigh’s passing game with a series of determined challenges. A tactical substitution in the 32nd minute saw Rio Davidson-Phipps replace Matt Robinson, a change which appeared to bolster the visitors’ defence and add bite to their midfield.
The second half saw a revitalised Braintree side emerge. Their increasing pressure finally told in the 53rd minute. Chay Cooper delivered a precise cross which found Tom Blackwell, who made no mistake in levelling the scores at 1-1. The equaliser injected fresh impetus into Braintree’s play, and they pushed forward with renewed vigour in search of a winner. Around the 70th minute mark, Eastleigh responded with a triple substitution, introducing fresh legs in an attempt to wrestle back control of the midfield.
With the match seemingly destined for a draw, disaster struck for Eastleigh in the 81st minute. Under pressure from a Braintree attack, Paul McCallum inadvertently turned the ball into his own net, handing the visitors a late 2-1 lead. The closing minutes were frantic, with Eastleigh desperately seeking an equaliser. Tempers frayed as the clock ticked down, leading to a spate of yellow cards for both sides. Despite their best efforts, Eastleigh were unable to find a way back into the game, and Braintree held on for a hard-fought victory.
The win boosts Braintree’s position in the National League table.