Braintree Town 2 Wealdstone 2

East Anglian Daily Times: Luke Allen nets Braintree's first goal against Wealdstone. Photo: JON WEAVERLuke Allen nets Braintree's first goal against Wealdstone. Photo: JON WEAVER (Image: Archant)

Honours ended even in this all action, cup-tie style game at the IronmongeryDirect Stadium on Saturday in what was the proverbial game of two halves - the hosts dominating the first and taking a two goal interval lead with the visitors fighting back with two early second half goals and deserving their point.

It left home boss Brad Quinton fuming with his players for not showing more discipline and concentration from the second-half kick-off.

“Some players mentally were still in the dressing room so we didn’t get out of the starting blocks and I’m extremely annoyed at this having dominated the first half,” he said.

“It’s all about game management by the players out on the pitch when you’re in such a commanding position.

“By the interval we should have had the game wrapped up in the first half with the chances and control we had.

“Even when we allowed them to equaliser we still had chances towards the end to have won it but some players blew it and I can’t accept that.”

The only bright spot for Quinton was the impressive debut of Colchester United loanee Diaz Wright who had an outstanding game.

“To come into a senior side like this on a heavy, difficult pitch and make such a strong contribution was excellent and he had fantastic energy, determination and passing skills,” Quinton added.

In reality the Iron should have been at least four goals up by the interval but only excellent saves by visiting keeper Jonathan North to deny Dan Thompson, Ricky Gabriel (twice) and John Muleba keep the scores blank until the 42nd-minute when a fine home passing move saw Luke Allen slide the ball into the net.

Two minutes into stoppage time North blotted his copy book by bringing down Thompson leaving Billy Crook to step up and score from the spot.

The opening minutes of the second half saw the visitors transformed and on 59 minutes Matthew Whichelow turned on the edge of the Iron area and sent a curling shot into the top corner. The visitors kept up their pressure and on 65 minutes Nathan McDonald rushed out to try and deny David Pratt but brought him down to concede a penalty which Daniel Green converted.