BRAINTREE Town manager Brad Quinton feels his team are still inspiring fear in their Vanarama National League South play-off rivals as the race for promotion hots up over Easter.

The Iron have a busy schedule over the Easter weekend, with Good Friday’s home game against Oxford City (kick-off 3pm) being swiftly followed by a trip to play-off rivals St Albans City on Bank Holiday Monday.

It is a crunch part of the campaign and Braintree head into it sitting eighth and two points off the top seven after last weekend’s 1-1 draw at Hampton and Richmond Borough and Tuesday’s 2-1 win at Weston-super-Mare.

The Iron know they have to break back into the play-off spots with seven games remaining.

Quinton feels there will be “twists and turns” before the final table is sorted, but he hopes that Hampton and Richmond assistant boss - and renowned Sky Sports football commentator - Martin Tyler is right in backing Braintree for a finish in one of the top-seven spots.

Quinton said: “I think we can pick up points in the next couple of games, but there is still a long way to go.

“I know there will be twists and turns in the run-in so we have to make sure we stay in there.

“Martin Tyler spoke to me on Saturday and he was full of compliments for us.

“He said ‘see you in the play-offs’ and I believe that we can be in there. There are a lot of clubs worrying about us as we are a very good squad and we go about our business.

“There are targets for us but we keep them within the camp.

“We know we have to step it up once again and we will keep working very hard as Easter is very important.

“Six points would be massive, but we’ll take it one game at a time and hopefully keep players fit and available.”

Braintree midfielder Billy Crook agrees with his boss and feels the team’s achievements so far this season have shown that they warrant a place in the play-offs, but he knows a productive Easter may be crucial to their success.

Crook added: “We need a strong run-in now and we know that we need three or four good results on the bounce.

“We know that we have to take each game as it comes, but I believe we have the confidence to do it.

“We have seen improvements in recent games and I feel we have the right to be in the play-offs after what we’ve achieved this year.

“I still think we are one of the top seven sides in the league.

“It will be tough to prove that in the final table from where we are, but I feel we can still do it.

“It’s important to get results over Easter to push us back up.

“It will be tough as Oxford City can go to big clubs and get results and it won’t be easy at St Albans as they are going well in the play-offs.

“After these games it could be a lot clearer.

“We all know that, but we are all confident and the boys stick together.

“We have to find that form again, but Brad will keep us on it.

“It’s a similar situation to what we had at Enfield last year.

“We have been top here, while then we were always chasing is, but Brad knows this situation and he has the ability to get extra out of players at times like this.

“What he has as a manager rubs off on players and I’ve seen that before.”