Winning ugly helps keep Brantham in Premier Division

By Derek Davis

19th Apr 2022 | Football


Charlie Iglesias celebrated first goal as Brantham stay up (Picture credit: Peninsula Nub News)
Charlie Iglesias celebrated first goal as Brantham stay up (Picture credit: Peninsula Nub News)

It was not pretty but it was effective.

Brantham's final home game of the season ended with a gritty win, which epitomised the character manager Pip Boyland demanded since he took over from Michael Brothers halfway through the season.

Two well taken goals from Charlie Iglesias inside 16 minutes got Brantham off to a superb start but they had to dig deep to hold on in the second half after poor defending from a corner allowed Luke Butcher to pull one back for the visitors.

Iglesias (9) wheels away after beating keeper Josh Pope (Picture credit: Peninsula Nub News)

Iglesias powered into the box after getting on the end of a good ball from Liam Riley and beat keeper Josh Pope, watched by his England international goalkeeper Nick Pope.

Persistence paid off for Iglesias with his second after good work from striker partner James Lee, who both harried the defenders throughout.

Iglesias might have had hat-trick when was hauled down by the Town skipperButcher, but referee Ashley Tyne waved away the appeals.

Branthan denied penalty (Picture credit: Peninsula Nub News)

The hard earned victory ensured Brantham kept clear of the bottom two, but also cost Mildenhall manager Ricky Cornish his job.

"It was always going to be difficult and it may have been ugly at times but the main thing for us was the result," said Boyland.

"We have been working hard on bits and with that little time we had to work together and make changes it meant we had to pull together. We had to rely on hard work, maturity, discipline and character and fair players the players they did that."

Although the Imps were already safe from relegation, due to the weird calibrations engineered by the Thurlow Nunn Easter Counties reorganisation, it was important to them that they finish away from the bottom two anyhow.

Imps boss Pip Boyland with coaching staff (Picture credit: Peninsula Nub News)

"People were writing them off all over the place but our main target was always to stay out of the bottom two and we have done that by sticking together," said Boyland.

"These boys are here to play and enjoy football combining in for not a lot of money but they have shown when they are willing to work and will to win as they have done, they get their rewards.

Brantham now go to Wroxham for their last game of the season with the Yachtsmen chasing a win to secure the title.

"We go there and upset because we want to a good strong end too thee season.

These sorts of games are what it is about. They are challenging, and it is about digging deep and that will also hep going forward for next season.

"It was always about performance, character, sticking together, I never even mentioned anything about

England keeper Nick Pope watching brother Josh at Brantham poses for Peninsula Nub news

Boyland, along with chairman Peter Crowhurst and CEO Darren Smith, are already making plans for next season and the rookie manager is relishing the challenge and has no regrets about picking up the reins at the turn off the year.

Boyland said: "This is my first manager's job and as soon as it was offered I took it because I knew it could be and I have done hat they asked me to do - so no, no regrets.'

While buoyant Pip was celebrating with his players Mildenhall sacked their manager Cornish following after a run of six games without a win and picking up just one point.

Brantham's battling James Lee (Picture credit: Peninsula Nub News)

Mildenhall chairman William Flynn said: 'The club feels that a change is now required to regain the forward momentum that the club and its fans desire.

"We have had some great days with Ricky, especially the FA Cup victory at Royston Town this season as well as two victories over Wroxham, but in the end, the recent collapse in form has been quite alarming, and we felt that we needed a change of direction."

Brantham Leisure Centre remains open over the summer for a range of events (Picture credit: Peninsula Nub News)

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