BRAINTREE TOWN 2 BROMLEY 2

Vanarama National League

On a night of disruptions for Braintree Town, they overcame a number of setbacks to draw 2-2 in their Vanarama National League game against Bromley.

It had been a stunning second-half turnaround that saw the Iron come back from a 2-0 half-time deficit to win 4-2 against the same opponents in the FA Cup a few weeks before.

And they had to come from behind again to get a point from the league encounter, but after injuries and a player arriving at the ground late, they would have been happy to get some reward from this game.

In fact, it was a performance that showed every bit as much heart as in that earlier clash even if the end result was slightly different.

Braintree made three changes to their starting line-up from the side that had begun the 1-0 defeat by Tranmere Rovers on Saturday.

Lee Barnard and Simeon Akinola, who had arrived late at the ground, dropped to the bench to be replaced by Jack Midson and Reece Hall Johnson respectively.

But the most notable change was the absence of centre-half George Elokobi, who was recalled from his loan spell by his parent club Colchester United.

Elokobi started for the U’s in their League Two game at Cheltenham Town and he was replaced on the team sheet by Jon Ashton.

However, when the game kicked off, it was not Ashton, but new signing Danny Rumens, who had joined recently from Bishop’s Stortford, in the centre of the back four alongside Jake Goodman.

The reason behind Ashton’s exclusion was a tweaked calf muscle in the warm-up.

None of it was the preparation that would have been in Braintree’s plans, but if there was disruption, it certainly didn’t show in the opening minute, as Braintree made the perfect start.

With less than a minute on the clock, the Iron won a throw in deep in Bromley territory on the right-hand side of the pitch.

It was taken by Harry Lee and his long throw was allowed to bounce right the way across the box by the Bromley defence to where Reece Hall Johnson gleefully rammed the ball into the net.

It was shocking early defending by the visitors, but they were clearly stung by conceding so early and responded well.

Blair Turgott got clear on the right and fired a low shot that flew inches past the post, but it was a warning that Braintree failed to heed as they conceded an equaliser in the seventh minute.

Sean Clohessy was left exposed at right-back and Bromley’s David Martin was able to swing in a cross to where Lee Minishall headed the ball back across the face of goal and Tobi Sho-Silva buried it from close range.

With two goals coming in quick succession as a result of poor defending at either end of the pitch, the game settle down somewhat from the frenetic start.

However, Braintree soon suffered further disruption by an injury to centre-half Jake Goodman, who limped off clutching his hamstring.

It meant yet another restructuring of the home back line, but they were able to settle as neither side was really able to impose itself in front of goal over the next 20 minutes.

They had a let off on 27 minutes though when a free-kick was swung in to the back post to where Turgott fired for goal.

He saw his effort come back off the post and with no white shirted player able to turn in the loose ball, the Iron were grateful that Chez Isaac was able to hook the ball clear.

The Iron did pose some more threat themselves as the half wore on and went closest when Sam Matthews curled a free-kick just over the bar in the 41st minute.

Parity remained at the break, but it only lasted for six minutes after it.

Braintree had the reflexes of goalkeeper Sam Beasant to thank for keeping them level when he palmed a point-blank range Lee Minishall header over the bar.

However, the resulting corner was glanced on to Minishall at the far post and he did find the back of the net this time with a header to put Bromley ahead.

Braintree knew they had work to do if they wanted to get anything from their night and made a change with the now-arrived Akinola replacing Sam Matthews.

The Iron knew they would need a second half like they had in the earlier FA Cup game against Bromley and they set about achieving that in the 68th minute with a second goal.

They hadn’t really threatened the Bromley goal since the break, but a wonderful ball swung in by Hall Johnson was headed in by a stooping Michael Cheek to make things level again.

Braintree had their tails up and they pressed Bromley back with some enterprising play as Akinola, Cheek and Hall Johnson looked to run the ball at the visitors’ back line.

There was to be no way through for a third goal, but even though Bromley pressed hard themselves for a winner in the latter stages, there wasn’t one at the other end either and the game finished in an honourable draw.

Braintree Town: Sam Beasant, Jerome Okimo, Danny Rumens, Jake Goodman (Chez Isaac 13), Sean Clohessy, Sam Matthews (Simeon Akinola 55), Oli Mudoon, Reece Hall Johnson (Lee Barnard 87), Harry Lee, Jack Midson, Michael Cheek.

Unused subs: Joe Maybanks.

Referee: Christopher O’Donnell.