Braintree Town were left ruing not having taken goal-scoring chances as they lost to a last-gasp strike at promotion-chasing FC Halifax Town.

The Iron have seen a number of Vanarama Conference Premier points slip away this season after not making more of their opportunities in front of goal and manager Alan Devonshire said he was “gutted” that they got no reward from this game.

In a crowd of 1,268 there were 45 away fans and their team came close to giving them something to cheer about all the way back to Essex.

However, it was Jamie Jackson’s injury-time goal for the hosts that made sure the 1,223 other attendees went home happy as the Shaymen secured a fourth consecutive win in the league.

Devonshire said: “We tweaked our system a bit to try and frustrate them and we knew that if we kept it like that with 20 to 25 minutes to go, then we could go for a winner.

“That was the plan, but it didn’t work as we didn’t score the goal we needed and they nicked it at the end.

“However, the lads gave me everything.

“I’m gutted for the boys because they worked so hard and I felt we were the better side without a doubt in the second half.

“But you have to take your chances.”