BRAINTREE Town manager Ryan Maxwell insists his side will not be the 'whipping boys' of National League South, this season.

The Iron kicked off their new campaign with a battling 1-1 draw with Oxford City, despite having to play much of the second half with only ten men following Femi Akinwande's red card.

Braintree travel Hemel Hempstead Town this weekend and boss Maxwell says his players will give everything in every game, with him in charge.

Maxwell said: "There's intense passion amongst the players and they know they have to die in every game to keep the shirt, because we have other players waiting for their chance.

"One thing is certain is that Braintree Town will not be the whipping boys in this division this season.

"I know it was a bittersweet end to the game only getting a point but they all did so well being a man short for most of the second half.

"We know we still have a lot to work on and it will again be hard working training sessions this week in readiness for our next game at Hemel Hempstead on Saturday."

Ten-man Braintree battled hard against Oxford City and fully deserved their point.

But it left manager Maxwell frustrated that his side did not secure all three points, in what was an entertaining encounter at the Dunmow Group Stadium.

"I'm obviously pleased with a point in the end but in reality we were the better side throughout, created more chances but were in my view let down by some really poor refereeing decisions," he declared.

"You cannot account for what the officials do in a game and in the end it has a great bearing on the result as it did in this game."

Maxwell was furious with referee Jack Packman for showing Akinwande a second yellow card on 65 minutes, to give him his marching orders.

"He was blatantly foul by the City defender as even the neutrals watching could see and it was the same in the first half when again he was clearly fouled by a defender.

"But incredibly on both incidents the referee failed to seven speak to or book the offenders which is what it warranted - it was unbelievable.

"The players had really worked hard throughout the game and then to end sharing the points was a clear injustice."

Alfie Payne had given the Iron the lead on 50 minutes with a low drive inside the area after a well-worked corner.

But the sending off changed the game and despite some heroic defending in the last 20 minutes of the game, ex-Iron defender Dan Matsuzaka snatched an equaliser for the visitors with five minutes to go with a header on the edge of the penalty box.

"It was a blow because we defended so well being one man down and full credit to all the players they never gave up and stuck to their defensive duties and even then we had a couple of chances to have added to our score," said Maxwell.

"Our goal came from a set play we had been using in training and to be honest we should have scored with a similar move in the first half.

"I always felt we were comfortable against a well drilled side that was pushing for promotion last season and the signs for us are really encouraging,

"The players carried our distinct instructions from the kick off and we had a clear, defined game plan that worked and a win was certainly on the cards until certain crucial decisions were made against which I find amazing.

"Everyone played their part and now we'll get ourselves ready for the next game and go away from home aiming to secure our first win of the season."

Braintree Town: Preston; Ikbusai, Porter, Clements, Pennel; Hope (70 Renee), Johnson, Payne (86 Holness), Krasniqi; Davidson, Akinwande. Subs (not used): Ainsworth, Okonkwo, Crichlow.

Attendance: 412