WELLING UNITED 1 BRAINTREE TOWN 2

Vanarama National League

Dan Sparkes’ rich vein of goal-scoring form continued as Braintree Town extended their winning run to three Vanarama National League games at Welling United.

The 24-year-old’s 76th minute strike means he has now scored in each of Braintree’s last three games and helped them take ten points from their last three outings.

That run has propelled Danny Cowley’s side up to ninth in the National League standings and the Iron boss is pleased with the threat that Sparkes is posing up front for his team.

“Dan is in a really good moment just now,” said Cowley.

“He is a real goal threat for us.

“There were a few times leading up to the goal when he got it on the elbow of the box and tried to cut it to get it on his left foot but just couldn’t get his shot away.

“So it felt like it was coming.

“I had a feeling that if we could make the right substitution, then we could unpick them.

“We had a few chances leading up to it.

“Remy (Clerima) had one when he overlapped brilliantly and got in and probably could have scored, so we did feel like we had some control of the game at that period.

“It’s just nice to have scored and got over the line.”

Braintree had started the game well, before conceding a goal that Cowley felt was against the run of play in the sixth minute as Afolabi Obafemi gave the Wings the lead.

It was short-lived, though, as Michael Cheek, marked his return to the Iron’s starting line-up with a shot that was drilled low into the goal on 14 minutes.

Braintree threatened to get a second, but it remained level until a bold substitution in the 75th minute by Cowley.

He replaced Cheek with former West Ham youngster Anthony Edgar for his first appearance since joining Braintree in the summer and it proved an inspired substitution.

Within seconds of joining the action, Edgar had released Sparkes, who drilled the ball home for his third goal in as many games to wrap up three points rather than one for the visitors.

Cowley said: “We have a clear strategy when we are drawing – we feel that if there are 15 (minutes) to go and we’re drawing, then we’ll go and try to win the match.

“Out of three games, if you are drawing three, then that’s three points.

“However, if you’re positive in your substitutions and go for the throat, then you might lose one, you might draw one and you might win one and end up with four points.

“So in this league, with three points for a win, I think you always have to go out to win matches when you can.

“That’s what we look to do.

“We had two options; we could have gone with Sean (Marks), who would have given us a real physical presence up there, but we felt that Anthony (Edgar) had done well in pre-season before picking up a hamstring injury and he has played in the Premier League as a 19 year old.

“You don’t do that unless you have ability and he has the ability to unlock teams.

“He did that and that was pleasing.”