It was honours even as Fleet’s first clean sheet of the season produced the first point of the campaign in Essex this Bank Holiday Monday. On a warm afternoon, neither side did enough to take maximum points, with Dominic Poleon’s shot over midway through the second half the best opportunity for the visitors.

There were five changes to the starting eleven that played on Saturday against Barnet as Josh Wright, Wes Fonguck, Greg Cundle and Giles Phillips all returned to the side while there was a first start for Jephte Tanga.

Chay Cooper was first up with the chances as he was picked out on the edge of the area with a good sight of goal but his lack of connection presented no real threat for the Fleet keeper.

Dom Samuel was forced into an early exit on four minutes following a collision with keeper Lucas Covolan as the striker ran on to a pass from the back by Phillips (pictured below). Both players came together in what seemed like an everyday tackle. Samuel tried to stand but immediately went to ground again and had to be helped off the pitch, to be replaced by Poleon.

Tanga wrestled his way down the right flank but couldn’t get the finish on a shot while Lewis Page got in a good position on the other wing but fired his cross-shot too far and it bounced away from danger. Braintree gradually put their stamp on the game with plenty of possession but on the occasions they did get half a sight of goal, they didn’t threaten.

Though not the most exciting of displays, there were more chances as half-time loomed. Cooper once again looked dangerous in front of goal for Braintree and arrived at the far post following a long ball from Inih Effiong but couldn’t keep his shot low.

Fonguck claimed the best chance of the half following great build-up play that involved Jim Kellermann and Phillips. The Fleet’s number 10 dispatched a curling shot towards goal which was only marginally off target.

Fleet stepped it up in the second half with Tanga very mobile down the right, although he took plenty of the punishment that Braintree were dishing out. Fleet’s attacks were broken up by shirt-pulling and fouls that frustrated the players and fans but Tanga kept plugging away despite being targeted by the home side.

Cundle had a shot that lacked power find Covolan’s arms and then on 66 minutes, Marley Miranda’s effort from the right came back off the Fleet bar. Tanga then released Poleon for a run on goal against Covolan. The striker chose to try and take the ball over the Braintree goalkeeper but that sent it too high and the great opportunity was gone.

Poleon had another test for Covolan late in the game with an effort on target but the keeper got down well to that while Tanga’s run into the box ended in a fall but no penalty as far as referee Lauren Impey was concerned.

Reggie Lambe and former Fleet favourite John Akinde were sent on as Braintree tried to nab the three points but although they had a couple of openings, Cousins was equal to those.

EUFC: Cousins, Phillips, Page, Cordner, Dallison, Wright, Kellermann (Domi 81), Fonguck (Edser 68), Cundle, Tanga, Samuel (Poleon 4). Subs: O’Neill, Chapman, Tanner, Berry
BTFC: Covolan, Clampin, Annesley (Fyfield 77), Langston, Grimwood, Vennings, Robinson (Lambe 63), Miranda, Effiong (Akinde 63), Lisbie (Blackwell 85), Cooper (Powell 73).
Attendance: 1,313 (164 EUFC)
Photos: ©EUFC – Ed Miller

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