Bradley Quinton steals a point for Braintree

by Carl Marston Saturday, August 11, 2012
4:58 PM

Braintree Town 2 Hyde 2

BRAINTREE Town salvaged a draw at the death, thanks to Bradley Quinton’s injury-time equalsier against 10-man Hyde, in a Blue Square Premier opener at the Amlin Stadium this afternoon.

Midfielder Quinton steered home Danny Sparkes’ 91st minute corner to snatch a point which the Iron hardly deserved.

The Iron were very poor in the first half, conceding a brace of goals to Hyde striker Scott Spencer.

The newly-promoted visitors took the lead in the 23rd minute, when Phil Jevons’ long-range free-kick was deflected home off Spencer, wrong-footing keeper Danny Naisbitt.

Naisbitt was one of five Braintree players making their competitive debuts for Iron in the starting line-up.

Hyde doubled their tally in the 37th minute.

The dangerous Spencer was chopped down in the box by right-back Ryan Peters, enabling Spencer to pick himself up and covert the ensuing penalty.

There was a blow of Hyde, even before the second half started, when their centre-half Andrew Pearson was sent off following an altercation in the tunnel as the two teams went off for half-time.

Kane Sheppard, on as a second-half substitute, reduced the deficit from close in on 48 minutes.

But Iron looked set for defeat, until veteran Quinton popped up in injury time with the crucial equaliser.

BRAINTREE: Naisbitt, Peters, Paine, Wells, Habergham, McNish (sub Sheppard, 46), Davis, Symons (sub Quinton, 75), Sparkes, Dawkin (sub Mulley, 71), Marks.

Attendance: 598