A hard-fought contest at the Rare Breed Meat Co. Stadium saw Braintree Town secure a vital 1-0 victory over AFC Fylde, thanks to Inih Effiong’s second-half strike. The match, a tense affair throughout, was punctuated by numerous yellow cards and a crucial red card for the visitors.
The first half was a cagey affair, with both sides struggling to gain a foothold and create clear scoring opportunities. Growing frustration in the Braintree ranks was evident as both James Vennings and Tom Blackwell were shown yellow cards shortly before the interval. The teams went into half-time locked in a goalless stalemate.
The second half proved a far more eventful period. Fylde’s Bryce Hosannah and Tyler Roberts were both booked in quick succession, setting the tone for a more frenetic 45 minutes. Roberts’ afternoon then took a turn for the worse just after the hour mark when he received a second yellow card and subsequent red for a rash challenge, leaving his side to face the remainder of the match with ten men.
Braintree quickly capitalised on their numerical advantage. Minutes after the sending off, a well-constructed move saw Chay Cooper deliver a precise pass to Inih Effiong, who coolly slotted the ball past the Fylde goalkeeper to give the hosts a 1-0 lead. The goal energised Braintree and forced Fylde into a defensive reshuffle.
Despite being a man down, Fylde rallied and sought an equaliser. Their efforts were hampered by growing frustration, exemplified by Jonathan Ustabasi’s booking for a late challenge. However, Braintree’s resolute defending limited Fylde’s opportunities to breach their backline.
The closing stages of the match witnessed a flurry of yellow cards as tempers frayed on both sides. For Braintree, Frankie Terry, goalscorer Inih Effiong, Marley Marshall-Miranda, and Chay Cooper all entered the referee’s notebook. Fylde’s Ethan Mitchell and substitute Gavin Massey also received cautions.
Braintree held firm to secure a valuable three points, lifting them to 19th in the National League table, while Fylde slipped to 21st. The match, a tight contest ultimately decided by a moment of quality and a pivotal red card, marked a return fixture between the two sides after a gap of at least three seasons.