Report and reaction: Albion knocked out of National League Cup by Braintree Town

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Charlie Hanson

2025-03-11T21:45+00:00

Sahil Bashir equalised for Albion in the 47th minute. 📷 by Paul Hazlewood.

Albion were knocked out of the National League Cup at the quarter-final stage on Tuesday as they were beaten 2-1 by Braintree Town.

Shannon Ruth's side made the worst possible start as Braintree took the lead after 20 seconds, before Sahil Bashir equalised two minutes into the second half - but the Iron found what proved to be their winner just a matter of moments later.

Jermaine Francis put his team in front with the first attack of the game when he raced in on goal and slotted the ball into the bottom right corner.

Braintree took the lead in the opening minute. 📷 by Paul Hazlewood.

The Iron striker went close to adding a second after half an hour when he looped a header onto the roof of the bar, before Harry Howell tested Braintree keeper Henry Gray for the first time on the night with a well struck first time effort, but the stopper got down to his right to palm it away.

Bashir’s low effort was kept out at the near post just before the half-time whistle, but the winger found the back of the net within 80 seconds of the restart. Josh Robertson had the opportunity to shoot from just inside the box but was selfless as he teed up Bashir making a run down the left of the box. Despite a significant bobble, Sahil made no mistake as he curled it into the bottom corner.

Shannon Ruth's team's joy was short lived though. Albion failed to clear a ball in from the right and Kyreece Lisbie rifled into the bottom left corner from close range with 52 minutes played.

Sahil Bashir showed his composure to equalise for Albion. 📷 by Paul Hazlewood.

Robertson had a glorious chance to equalise but blazed over before Jamie Mullins thumped narrowly wide from 20 yards.

Charlie Tasker's cross smacked the outside of the post, but Braintree were able to keep Albion at arm's length in the final throes.

'Harsh lesson, but we're seeing progress'

Shannon Ruth watches on from the touchline against Braintree Town. 📷 by Paul Hazlewood.

Men's under-21 head coach Shannon Ruth said, "We're probably our own worst enemy tonight. I thought we played well and I didn't think we deserve to lose the game. But when you give the opponent a goal after 20 seconds, that's a problem.

"We started the second half really well and I thought for large periods of the game we were the better side.

"It's a good, but harsh lesson for the players. You can't come into a game, play well, but give the opponent two goals, no matter how well you play. That is the reality of the game. If you don't take care of the brilliant basics and the small margins and the important moments, then no matter how well you play in large periods you get hurt.

"Saying that, I saw a lot of progress with this group tonight. We've been together for six, seven weeks. We started the game with three scholars on the pitch, everyone who we brought on are scholars.

"So the group is getting better, the performances are getting more consistent. We're getting more dominant in terms of overall possession. I am seeing progress, but we're being punished in games and we've got to address that."