Spirit of Angelo's Iron keeps dream alive

ANGELO HARROP hailed calm heads as Braintree Town hauled themselves off the ropes after Chelmsford City's late comeback to land an extra-time knock-out and reach the Promotion Final.

- Matt Badcock

Just four days after going the distance in the Eliminator with Bath City, Harrop's Iron had to put in another marathon shift.

Leon Davies and Freddie Sears has put them in the box-seat only for Robbie Simpson's Clarets to hit two in two minutes to force extra-time.

But Jayden Davis' deflected strike saw the Iron through this pulsating Essex derby with a trip to the winners of Worthing and Maidstone up next.

"The boys got over the line in two big, big games now - real pressure against two good sides," emotional boss Harrop said. "Beating Bath was a real big achievement. Winning here I don't know how long it is since we've won here - but what a performance and what a day."

The first 45 minutes were as typically edgy as you can expect from a semi-final derby. Dom Odusanya fizzed a shot wide early in the second half before Davies curled in a fine opener on 54 minutes.