Three goals in an eight-minute spell scuppered Braintree Town’s hopes of bringing any points back from their trip to the north-east.

The Iron had been impressive in securing draws against the Vanarama Conference Premier’s top two teams in their previous two games in the week before, but they came unstuck at Gateshead.

They were looking to avenge a defeat at the Gateshead International Stadium last season when they felt they should have won but ended up losing 1-0 to a 90th-minute goal.

And things looked good until the 69th minute for the visitors.

They had taken the lead on 35 minutes thanks to strike by Jordan Cox as he scored a fourth goal in the last five games and the Iron held that lead for the next 34 minutes of the game.

However, that was when it all went wrong for them.

Braintree have had well-publicised injury problems in recent weeks and were only able to name four substitutes again, while the hosts were able to make strong changes from the bench.

Heed boss Gary Mills made a three substititions between 57 and 67 minutes and they were soon back on level terms when Carl Finnigan, one of those who had just come on, slotted home from Andrai Jones’ cross.

Within three minutes, Phil Turnbull put the hosts ahead with a shot from outside the box and the points were made safe when another of the home substitutes Jon Shaw made it 3-1.