Vanarama South Whitehawk 1 Braintree Town 1 It took a verbal half-time rollicking to his players by Iron manager Brad Quinton to shake them into a second half performance in a game they should have won comfortably but for wasting a host of goal-scoring chances.
He said: “The players responded after what I had said to them in the dressing room and we went out and completely dominated the second half but again we failed to take several scoring opportunities when in reality we should have comfortably put the game to bed.”
The first 45 minutes was certainly the worst the Iron had played so far this season as they lacked cohesion and any real pace in their game against a struggling side still looking for their first point of the season.
Both Osa Obanwonyi and Marc Okoye were booked for unnecessary fouls and they conceded a 14th minute goal when home striker Pape Gueye, on loan from Sutton Utd, was allowed space to rise unmarked in the Iron area to head home from a left wing free-kick.
The second half was a much improved Iron performance and they equalised on 53 minutes through a superbly taken free-kick by Luke Allen who slotted the ball into the top right-hand corner of the net giving Alex Tokarczyk no chance.
Iron kept up the pressure and just past the hour Phil Roberts raced clear on goal but somehow Tokarczyk somehow managed to get a hand to the ball and palm it away for a corner.
By now it was all Iron going forward and twice they broke clear with one-on-one situations with the keeper only to waste the chances by putting the ball wide.
Late on the home keeper pulled off two more fine saves from Billy Crook and substitute Tyler Campbell to deny the Iron.
They host unbeaten league leaders St Albans City on Bank Holiday Monday, kick-off 3pm.
Meanwhile, Chelmsford City saw off Truro City 2-0 to remain second in the table. Matthew Johnson put the Clarets ahead on the hour mark with a header, after the home side had dominated the first half.
Christopher Dickson made the points safe after 79 minutes, giving the Clarets their fourth win of the young season.
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