BRAINTREE Town boss Ryan Maxwell says they will be reassessing their squad ahead of this weekend's big FA Cup tie against Billericay Town.

The Iron fell to their first National League South defeat of the season last Saturday after losing 3-1 at home to Bath City.

Braintree turn their attention to the FA Cup second qualifying round, where they will host Billericay at Cressing Road on Saturday (kick-off 3pm).

And although boss Maxwell says they are heading in the right direction, he nevertheless admits they will make adjustments if and where they can.

Maxwell said: "I'm disappointed obviously with the result but we have come a long way in such a short time and there's still a great deal of work to do but we are heading in the right direction.

"Players know that they to step up to this level and do so quickly and again we'll be reassessing our overall squad and tweaking it here and there, with what we know are budget restrictions in our situation.

"We've just signed a new attacking midfield player on who was with Dartford but he's not yet match fit but once he's up and running that will give us another option."

Maxwell was upset with the second penalty controversially awarded against his side five minutes into the second half against Bath that eventually led to their first defeat of the season.

The Iron were a goal down at half-time but equalised on 49 minutes when skipper Matt Johnson forced the ball home from a Correy Davidson corner.

But they fell behind ahead after a spot-kick was awarded against Iron defender Kyran Clements, who had his arms down by his side when the ball struck him.

Maxwell said: "It was unbelievable and a decision that was totally wrong but it goes to show the inconsistency amongst referees in such situations.

"Another referee would certainly not have given it because Kyran didn't move either arms from his side for a deliberate infringement to prevent a goal scoring opportunity.

"How he could give it in these circumstances is a complete mystery - had Kyran deliberately moved his arm out or up to charge down the ball then I could accept it.

"Obviously too having just come back on level terms and with our tails up it and renewed confidence in the team this was a shattering blow and totally put us off our stroke."

The Iron's defender Ezra Ikuuasi had conceded his side's first penalty on 34 minutes when a cross-field ball from the right wing hit his raised arm as he tried to spin on the turn.

Maxwell has no qualms about that decision, adding: "Ezra was caught out and although it was unintentional, he did handle the ball and so it was a penalty.

"I felt we should have at least got a draw out from the game - even when 2-1 down we had two shots cleared off their goal line but that's how football goes and you have to accept it."

It took three great saves from keeper Preston Edwards during the game to stop the visitors from increasing their lead in a game where in reality, the Iron should have collected a point.

Maxwell added: "We brought on Luke Holness at half time because he had a hamstring problem.

"But we needed to change things around and of course in a final bid to get that second equaliser you have to throw caution to the wind which is why we resorted to four up front and three at the back late on.

"Of course we were caught out by allowing them to break clear and score the third goal."