AFC Telford 1 Braintree 0 - Match analysis

They say a change is as good as a rest and AFC Telford United have had both in recent weeks.

Without a game since January due to the cold snap the Bucks strengthened their side with three new acquisitions and it was one of those, Ryan Brooke, who secured them a precious three points in a 1-0 win over Braintree.

The Oldham loanee's diving header 15 minutes from time settled a poor encounter between two out-of-form sides.

• See pictures from Telford's win over Braintree

But it's points not performances that matter to manager Andy Sinton at this stage of the season.

There was an air of anticipation around the ground before kick-off, the game having something of an opening day of the season feel to it such was the long wait for a competitive fixture punctuated only by the friendly success over Mansfield in mid-week.

A heavy pitch made life difficult for both sides with neither creating much in a dire opening half.

The first shot didn't arrive until the 22nd minute and when it did, from Aswad Thomas, it went out for a throw in, summing up a vastly disappointing half punctuated by niggly fouls and too many yellow cards.

Perhaps we should have seen what was coming when Chris Blackburn was booked inside the opening 50 seconds for a late challenge on Jai Reason which resulted in a caution.

The Bucks were in charge for much of the first half but a combination of poor decision making and error-strewn crosses meant that strike pair Kyle Perry and Chris Sharp had very few sightings of goal.

There were more bookings than chances in a gloomy opening 45 minutes where defences were on top. The sodden surface wasn't helping matters with Bucks groundstaff and volunteers helping to move 500 gallons of water from the pitch prior to kick-off to ensure the game could go ahead.

At the break many watching might have wondered why they bothered.

But the second half was a marked improvement and as the game opened up so the chances came.

Braintree came out of the blocks quickly with a neat and intricate move ending with Pat O'Connor bringing a save out of Ryan Young at his near post.

The Bucks, and in particular Steve Jones, began to come into the contest as the half wore on and slowly took control. The former Northern Ireland international was running at the Braintree backline with real intent and his cross on 55 minutes caused confusion in the box but the visitors managed to clear.

Sean Newton curled a free-kick wide of the left hand upright as Telford stepped up the pressure, with Jones bringing another save out of Nathan McDonald in the away goal.

But the Essex side were still a threat on the break and countered to great effect on 67 minutes. A sweeping move released young striker Brendan Kiernan who showed a turn of pace to out-fox Blackburn and a neat step-over brought him a yard of space to test Young with a 20-yard drive.

Sinton turned to Ashley Cain and Ryan Brooke to give the Bucks a more direct route and it was the latter who made the difference when he connected with Newton's tantalising cross with 15 minutes to go.

That prompted a period of nervous watching for the New Bucks Head crowd as Braintree poured forward in search of an equaliser. But, despite plenty of possession, they couldn't force a clear chance and the dogged home side held on for their first victory of 2012.

Alex James