Braintree Town secured a dramatic late victory against league leaders Barnet at the Rare Breed Meat Co. Stadium, a result that defied expectations given the visitors’ strong form this season. The match, which culminated in a flurry of late action, saw Braintree claim a 2-1 win, disrupting Barnet’s momentum despite their already assured play-off semi-final spot.
The first half began cautiously, with both teams probing for weaknesses. Kyrell Lisbie of Braintree Town received an early yellow card in the 6th minute for a foul, setting a physical tone for the match. Barnet took the lead in the 36th minute, with Callum Stead scoring, assisted by Ryan Glover. Braintree responded quickly, as Kyrell Lisbie scored in the 41st minute, assisted by Matt Robinson, levelling the score and injecting renewed energy into the home side before the interval.
The second half saw Barnet’s manager, Dean Brennan, make a series of tactical substitutions in an attempt to regain control. Billy Clifford replaced Dominic Telford at half-time, followed by Ben Coker and Rhys Browne entering the match in the 57th and 58th minutes respectively. However, these changes failed to unlock a determined Braintree defence. The half was marked by a number of yellow cards, with both sides committing mistimed challenges. George Langston and Louie Annesley of Braintree, along with Callum Stead of Barnet, were all cautioned.
The match reached a critical point in the final minutes. In the 88th minute, Barnet’s Joe Grimwood was shown a red card for violent conduct, reducing the visitors to ten men. Braintree capitalised on their numerical advantage, and in the 90th minute, John Akinde converted a penalty to secure a late winner. Braintree then made a late substitution, with Kyrell Lisbie being replaced by Tom Blackwell in the 91st minute. The game concluded with a final yellow card for Barnet’s Ben Coker in added time.
This victory sees Braintree Town move up to 16th in the National League standings with 51 points, providing a welcome boost as the season nears its end. For Barnet, despite remaining top of the league with 91 points, this defeat serves as a stark reminder that no match can be considered won until the final whistle, particularly with the play-offs approaching.