Back At It - Braintree Town vs. Ipswich Town

Football makes it's return at Cressing Road

After the glorious highs and crushing lows of The World Cup, it was great to get back to watching live football. I had intended to watch Sheppy United the week before but as England were playing Sweden I had delay my return to action by a week. My debut for the season was Braintree Town against Ipswich Town. This was the start of a new era for both sides with Braintree returning to The Conference National following their dramatic play off win over Hampton and Richmond Borough. As for Ipswich, they had a new manager in Paul Hurst following the departure of Mick McCarthy last season. This was my second visit to Cressing Road, I first visited seven years ago for a Confernce South match with Dorchester. 

Braintree defending the clubhouse end

This game was now a couple of weeks ago so my memory is a little patchy. What I do remember is that both the first team in the opening period and the under 23s in the second, struggled against Braintree and conceded a goal in each half. The first goal was lashed in from the edge of the area before a free kick was impressively dispatched into the top corner.

A rare Ipswich sight of goal

The closest station to Cressing Road is Braintree Freeport but it is worth staying on one extra stop to the main town station if you want pre match drinks. Trains depart from Liverpool Street and take just over an hour. Right in the town centre is The Bull which had a good choice of drinks and a decent outside area. The White Hart Hotel also had some decent choice and was quite a nice setting. Cressing Road is then about twenty minutes walk away. The Iron Bar at the ground thankfully has a bit more character than it's Glanford Park equivalent and had a good choice of lagers.

Covered terrace opposite the main stand