CHELMSFORD City boss Rod Stringer said it was “cruel” that his side were pegged back at the end of their derby encounter with Braintree Town.

The Clarets manager - and former Iron boss - felt it was two points dropped for his team as they saw a 2-1 win turned into a 2-2 draw by Marcel Barrington’s stoppage-time goal in the first of two meetings between the rivals over the festive period.

Stringer said: “I thought the second half performance from us was excellent.

“We came out and looked really bright, but credit to them as they kept going.

“We sat deeper and deeper and they got the equaliser so it’s tough, but we knew it would be tough.

“They retain the ball very well and they all play for one another.

“I said to my boys before the game that it would be that way.

“In the first half, I felt both sides were a bit cagey, but the way we came out in the second half was good value.

“I thought we would get over the line, but unfortunately football can be a cruel game and it feels like we lost two points.

“I feel if we’d got the third goal then we’d have gone on to win.

“We had one cleared off the line and had that gone in then we would have had more of a foothold and a right to win the game, but that’s football.

“That’s what people are on the line for.

“I’m disappointed but had you said to me before the game that you’d offer me a point then I think I’d have had a deal on that.

“To me, it’s not the worst point in the world when you see what Brad (Quinton) has done at Braintree this year.

“They play with so much pace and are very accurate in their passing so they are a tough side to break.

“I’m sure Brad was pleased with the equaliser and I’ll take a point at the end of the day. We go again and it will be interesting again on New Year’s Day.”