Alfreton won for the sixth time in seven matches as goals from Adam Cunnington and Anton Brown helped them claim an away victory at Braintree.

Cunnington put the Reds ahead with a spectacular volley from 20 yards that left Nathan McDonald with no chance.

The Iron equalised 10 minutes later when Billy Gibson scored his first senior goal, heading in from Jai Reason's cross from the left wing.

But Brown won it for Alfreton with a six-yard header from Josh Law's cross.

VIEWS FROM THE DRESSING ROOM

Alfreton Town manager Nicky Law told BBC Radio Derby:

"We knew it was going to be difficult. That's about the worst pitch I've seen all season. We knew we had to come here and play against a resolute and strong Braintree side, who deserve to be where they are.

"To come down here for the second time in a week, with another four-hour drive like we did on Tuesday. We had a great result then we got another one today.

"At half-time, we didn't have harsh words, but we said we had to up our game and I thought we did that in the second half.

"I thought we coped with the conditions well and it is unsightly when you have to get to the ball and put it in behind them to play percentages, but on pitches like this, that's what you have to do and that's what we've done."

Lineup, Bookings (1) & Substitutions (4)

Braintree Town

  • 01 McDonald
  • 03 Thomas
  • 04 Bailey-Dennis
  • 05 Paine
  • 16 O'Connor (Symons - 72' )
  • 24 Wells
  • 06 Reason
  • 08 Davis (Quinton - 78' )
  • 18 Gibson
  • 09 Marks
  • 10 Wright (Guy - 78' )

Substitutes

  • 22 Haxell
  • 07 Symons
  • 15 Quinton
  • 02 Peters
  • 11 Guy

Alfreton Town

  • 27 Stewart
  • 02 Law
  • 03 Franklin
  • 04 Streete
  • 25 Quinn
  • 29 Connelly
  • 07 Brown
  • 08 Moult
  • 19 Mullan
  • 15 Wilson Booked (Clayton - 86' )
  • 28 Cunnington

Substitutes

  • 01 Lowson
  • 05 Young
  • 17 Deverdics
  • 22 Meadows
  • 09 Clayton
Ref: Steve Martin
Att: 620

Match Stats

Shots

13 12

On target

7 8

Corners

6 6

Fouls

14 15

Live Text Commentary

90:00 +3:04 Full time

Full Time The referee ends the match.

90:00 +1:45

The assistant referee signals for offside against Sean Marks. Free kick taken by Jon Stewart.

90:00 +1:24

Jake Moult challenges Billy Gibson unfairly and gives away a free kick. Nathan McDonald takes the free kick.

90:00 +0:07

Jai Reason sends in a cross, Matthew Paine has a header from inside the six-yard box and clears the crossbar.

89:42

The ball is crossed by Billy Gibson, Matthew Paine takes a shot. Jon Stewart makes a save.

89:29

The ball is crossed by Sean Marks, Adam Quinn makes a clearance.

88:55

Billy Gibson produces a cross, Jon Stewart makes a save.

88:18

Brad Quinton takes a shot. Save made by Jon Stewart.

88:04

Connor Franklin concedes a free kick for a foul on Billy Gibson. Brad Quinton takes the indirect free kick.

87:00

Paul Clayton produces a right-footed shot from just outside the box that misses to the right of the target.

86:19

Foul by Brad Quinton on Paul Clayton, free kick awarded. Jon Stewart takes the free kick.

85:47 Substitution

Substitution Paul Clayton comes on in place of Anthony Wilson.

82:20

Sean Marks concedes a free kick for a foul on Jon Stewart. Indirect free kick taken by Jon Stewart.

82:01

Inswinging corner taken by Jai Reason, save by Jon Stewart.

81:51

Centre by Adam Bailey-Dennis, Jake Moult gets a block in.

81:16

Corner taken right-footed by Billy Gibson from the right by-line to the near post, clearance by Adam Quinn.

80:38

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Jai Reason by Josh Law. Free kick crossed by Billy Gibson, save made by Jon Stewart.

80:11

Aswad Thomas produces a cross, blocked by Josh Law.

78:49

Jake Moult takes a shot. Blocked by Nathan McDonald. Effort on goal by Anthony Wilson from just inside the penalty area goes harmlessly over the target.

77:07

Indirect free kick taken by Jon Stewart.

77:07 Substitution

Substitution Brad Quinton is brought on as a substitute for Kenny Davis.

77:07 Substitution

Substitution Jamie Guy comes on in place of Ben Wright.

77:07

Foul by Jai Reason on Theo Streete, free kick awarded.

75:58

A cross is delivered by Aswad Thomas.

74:58

The ball is crossed by Aswad Thomas, Ben Wright takes a shot. Jon Stewart makes a save.

71:35

Nicky Symons gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Theo Streete. Adam Quinn restarts play with the free kick.

71:05 Substitution

Substitution (Braintree Town) makes a substitution, with Nicky Symons coming on for Pat O'Connor.

69:40

Josh Law takes a shot. Save made by Nathan McDonald.

69:10

Outswinging corner taken right-footed by Josh Law played to the near post, Kenny Davis manages to make a clearance.

68:28

Unfair challenge on Anthony Wilson by Adam Bailey-Dennis results in a free kick. Free kick crossed by Josh Law, Adam Bailey-Dennis manages to make a clearance.

67:45

Centre by Aswad Thomas, Adam Quinn manages to make a clearance.

66:54

Anthony Wilson gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Adam Bailey-Dennis. Nathan McDonald restarts play with the free kick.

65:22

Unfair challenge on Theo Streete by Ben Wright results in a free kick. Jon Stewart takes the free kick.

64:26

Free kick awarded for a foul by Pat O'Connor on Anthony Wilson. Free kick taken by Jon Stewart.

64:17

Centre by Billy Gibson, Josh Law makes a clearance.

64:02

Sean Marks delivers the ball, Adam Quinn manages to make a clearance.

62:02

Assist by Josh Law.

62:02 Goal scored

Goal - Anton Brown - Braintree 1 - 2 Alfreton Anton Brown grabs a headed goal from close in. Braintree Town 1-2 Alfreton Town.

61:19

Aswad Thomas challenges Adam Cunnington unfairly and gives away a free kick. Josh Law sends in a cross,

60:28

Ben Wright gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Jamie Mullan. Jon Stewart restarts play with the free kick.

58:51 Booking

Booking Anthony Wilson goes into the book.

58:03

Corner taken right-footed by Josh Law, save made by Nathan McDonald.

56:25

Effort from the edge of the area by Anthony Wilson goes wide of the right-hand upright.

56:07

Jai Reason produces a cross, Jon Stewart manages to make a clearance.

54:18

Anthony Wilson takes a shot. Adam Bailey-Dennis gets a block in.

53:27

Free kick awarded for a foul by Anthony Wilson on Jai Reason. Free kick crossed right-footed by Jai Reason, Seamus Conneely manages to make a clearance.

52:19

Aswad Thomas fouled by Jamie Mullan, the ref awards a free kick. Indirect free kick taken by Nathan McDonald.

51:05

Short corner taken by Jake Moult, Pat O'Connor makes a clearance.

50:56

Jamie Mullan crosses the ball, Nathan McDonald gets a block in.

48:06

Dean Wells challenges Anthony Wilson unfairly and gives away a free kick. Josh Law restarts play with the free kick.

47:22

Ben Wright is caught offside. Free kick taken by Adam Quinn.

46:29

Anton Brown produces a left-footed shot from just outside the box that goes wide right of the goal.

46:11

A cross is delivered by Seamus Conneely, clearance made by Adam Bailey-Dennis.

45:49

Outswinging corner taken right-footed by Josh Law played to the near post, Kenny Davis manages to make a clearance.

45:41

Centre by Jamie Mullan, Aswad Thomas gets a block in.

45:01

The referee blows his whistle to start the second half.

45:00 +1:00 Half time

Half Time The ref blows to signal half-time.

44:28

Ben Wright is caught offside. Jon Stewart takes the indirect free kick.

44:00

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Adam Bailey-Dennis by Adam Cunnington. Nathan McDonald takes the indirect free kick.

42:08

Unfair challenge on Jake Moult by Matthew Paine results in a free kick. Josh Law produces a cross, Adam Quinn takes a shot. Adam Bailey-Dennis manages to make a clearance.

41:22

Ben Wright has an effort at goal from outside the penalty box missing to the wide left of the goal.

40:30

Short corner taken by Ben Wright, Billy Gibson has shot on goal from a long way out that goes wide left.

40:13

Inswinging corner taken right-footed by Ben Wright played to the near post, Anthony Wilson makes a clearance.

39:56

Sean Marks takes a shot. Save by Jon Stewart.

39:48

Centre by Billy Gibson, clearance made by Adam Quinn.

39:37

The ball is swung over by Billy Gibson, Josh Law manages to make a clearance.

36:18

Corner taken by Ben Wright played to the near post, clearance made by Anthony Wilson.

36:10

The ball is crossed by Billy Gibson, Connor Franklin gets a block in.

35:18

A cross is delivered by Billy Gibson, clearance by Connor Franklin.

34:42

Outswinging corner taken from the right by-line by Josh Law, clearance made by Sean Marks.

33:32

Theo Streete is adjudged to have handled the ball. Matthew Paine takes the free kick.

32:01

The assist for the goal came from Jai Reason.

32:01 Goal scored

Goal - Billy Gibson - Braintree 1 - 1 Alfreton Billy Gibson fires in a goal from the edge of the penalty box to the top left corner of the goal. Braintree Town 1-1 Alfreton Town.

31:41

Theo Streete is penalised for a handball. Aswad Thomas takes the indirect free kick.

30:34

Dean Wells concedes a free kick for a foul on Anthony Wilson. Indirect free kick taken by Seamus Conneely.

27:43

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Kenny Davis by Anton Brown. Free kick taken by Adam Bailey-Dennis.

25:26

Foul by Matthew Paine on Theo Streete, free kick awarded. Jon Stewart takes the free kick.

24:51

Unfair challenge on Sean Marks by Adam Cunnington results in a free kick. Billy Gibson delivers the ball from the free kick right-footed from right channel, Theo Streete makes a clearance.

24:17

Aswad Thomas crosses the ball.

23:13

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Aswad Thomas by Anthony Wilson. Indirect free kick taken by Nathan McDonald.

22:22 Goal scored

Goal - Adam Cunnington - Braintree 0 - 1 Alfreton Adam Cunnington finds the back of the net with a goal from just outside the area to the top left corner of the goal. Braintree Town 0-1 Alfreton Town.

19:34

Ben Wright takes a inswinging corner from the left by-line played to the near post, Kenny Davis produces a right-footed shot from deep inside the penalty box which goes wide of the right-hand upright.

19:29

The ball is crossed by Jai Reason, Adam Quinn makes a clearance.

19:12

Jake Moult takes a shot. Save by Nathan McDonald.

18:09

Billy Gibson produces a left-footed shot from just outside the box that misses to the right of the goal.

15:32

Josh Law takes the outswinging corner, Foul by Adam Quinn on Sean Marks, free kick awarded. Nathan McDonald restarts play with the free kick.

13:35

Foul by Anthony Wilson on Dean Wells, free kick awarded. Nathan McDonald restarts play with the free kick.

12:46

The ball is sent over by Billy Gibson, Seamus Conneely makes a clearance.

12:11

Adam Cunnington concedes a free kick for a foul on Adam Bailey-Dennis. Free kick taken by Nathan McDonald.

11:22

Aswad Thomas produces a cross, Ben Wright takes a shot. Seamus Conneely gets a block in.

8:33

Billy Gibson crosses the ball, save made by Jon Stewart.

7:15

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Dean Wells by Jake Moult. Nathan McDonald takes the indirect free kick.

5:02

Unfair challenge on Anthony Wilson by Adam Bailey-Dennis results in a free kick. Direct strike on goal from the free kick comes in from Adam Cunnington, Nathan McDonald makes a save.

4:42

Ben Wright takes a shot. Save by Jon Stewart.

4:11

Jamie Mullan sends in a cross, clearance by Dean Wells.

3:27

Jai Reason takes a shot from just outside the penalty area clears the crossbar.

2:04

Foul by Anton Brown on Kenny Davis, free kick awarded. Nathan McDonald takes the indirect free kick.

1:04

Centre by Aswad Thomas, Adam Quinn manages to make a clearance.

0:00

The ref blows the whistle to begin the match.

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