In a game played in persistent driving rain City soon got into their stride and after Tyrone Scarlett had shot wide following good work by Adam Vyce and Billy Bricknell they took the lead after 8 minutes when Billy Bricknell fed Takumi Ake and he netted from 15 yards. Just a minute later City increased their lead when Adam Vyce scored after a mazy run. City’s second string were looking a safe bet to win through at this stage but Braintree had their moments and a Jack Clark cross found its way to David Hutton but his header was straight at City ‘keeper Peter Haxell, who had been preferred to Lewis Batchford  who was suffering with a slight back twinge.

After 25 minutes the hosts reduced the deficit, somewhat against the run of play, when their best player Joel Barnett scored. Just 2 minutes later the same player slotted home from the edge of the penalty area to bring the scores level at 2-2. City were not to be denied though and Adam Vyce headed just wide from a free kick by Louis O’Sullivan. The referee then made a rather perplexing decision by bringing the first half to an end after just 42 minutes.

City started the second half with Lewis Batchford replacing Peter Haxell in goal. Haxell had been badly injured in the closing minutes of the first half and had gone off to hospital suffering from concussion.

An excellent run by Daniel Lopes ended with him putting City 3-2 up after 57 minutes but they held the lead for just 5 minutes before Reece Harris equalised for Braintree. There was no further scoring although Braintree danger man Joel Barnett should really have clinched the game for the home side missing twice when it appeared easier to score.

There is no extra time in this competition so the match went straight into a penalty shoot out. Billy Bricknell scored first for City but Braintree equalised, with Tyrone Scarlett then scoring for City. Braintree then made it 2-2 before Louis O’Sullivan put City ahead. Once again Braintree equalised and to be honest it looked as though the penalty shoot out would go on forever. Daniel Lopes put City 4-3 up but in a strange twist of fate Joel Barnett, who had been the outstanding Braintree player scoring twice in normal time, missed when Batchford saved his penalty effort. Ryan Batchford then scored the deciding penalty as City ran out 5-3 winners.

City’s side was: Peter Haxell; Stuart Latimer; Louis O’Sullivan; Max Johnson; Mark Haines; Ryan Batchford; Tyrone Scarlett; Daniel Lopes; Billy Bricknell; Adam Vyse and Takumi Ake. Substitutes were: Lewis Batchford; Miles Bacon and Ross Lamb.