Wood battled hard but could not get a first win for their new bosses at Braintree on Saturday.

Senior players Micky Engwell and Lee Harvey have been appointed joint caretaker managers until the end of the current season. Their first decision was to recall Noel Imber in goal in place of Scott Ward.

To avoid confusion Matthew Brady replaced Boreham Wood's Dean Parratt, denying the midfielder a chance to play against his cousin and namesake, Braintree's Dean Parratt.

Braintree Town, with the only unbeaten home league record in the Ryman Premier Division, having won eight and drawn one of their nine games, were obviously going to provide Wood with a tough match.

The first half provided an even contest with both team's defences proving more than capable, and both attacks finding chances hard to come by.

Frustration set in early, and after only 16 minutes Braintree's Dean Parratt was shown a yellow card by the referee, for a foul on Matthew Brady who had been sent clear on the halfway line by Chima Eberendu.

Midway through the half, Robbie Reinelt had a long range shot, but it went high and wide of the Wood goal. Nicky Simpson created an opening for himself soon afterwards, but Noel Imber easily saved his shot.

Imber was in action again and he made a brilliant save to deny a Mark Jones shot from the edge of the penalty area.

Wood dominated the closing stages of the first half with youngsters Steve Sinclair and Chima Eberendu playing some particularly good creative football.

Eberendu had a shot cleared off the line in the 40th minute, after beating goalkeeper Paul Catley to a ball on the edge of the Braintree Town penalty area. On the stroke of half time Elis Kodra fired in a left wing cross shot, but Catley easily caught the ball at the near post.

Wood started the second half brightly and forced a corner soon after the restart. Phil Mason took a short corner to Steve Sinclair, who crossed to Lee Harvey at the far post, but the Wood Skipper's header cleared the crossbar.

Dave McDonald conceded a free kick some 15 yards outside the Wood penalty area, when he handled the ball, and was promptly shown a yellow card by the referee.

Robbie Reinelt took the resulting free kick and brought a tremendous one handed save from Noel Imber, who tipped the ball over for a corner kick to Braintree Town.

Dean Parratt took the kick. Robbie Reinelt headed the ball wide of Imber, and substitute Leon Gutzmore was on hand to score from close range in the 61st minute to give Braintree Town a 1-0 lead.

The goal came as something of a surprise, as both defences had dominated the exchanges to this point. Chima Eberendu continued to cause problems for the Braintree defence, but Wood's lack of finishing power in front of goal prevented them from equalising.

Wood kept on battling but failed to penetrate the home defence.

However, it was Braintree Town who put the result beyond doubt after 83 minutes, when their second substitute Richard Blackery ran clear and passed the ball to skipper Nicky Smith, wide on the left.

Smith passed to the unmarked Craig Davidson, who had pushed forward, and the left back struck a superb shot wide of Imber, to record his first goal for the club. Wood never gave up, but it was not their day.

WOOD: Imber, McDonald, Engwell, Sinclair, Harvey, Brady, Jones, Mason, Dixon, Eberendu, Kodra. Subs (not used): Capone, Parratt, Whittington.

Braintree Town 2

Boreham Wood 0

Ryman Football League

Premier Division

December 12, 2001 12:22