BRAINTREE Town face an FA Cup replay after a 3-3 draw at Needham Market following a stoppage-time equaliser in the second qualifying round tie, writes DAVID WARD.
The Iron can think themselves a little fortunate to stay in the competition despite allowing the home side a late, late equaliser in the sixth minute of added on time to force a replay at Cressing Road, on Tuesday evening.
It was no more than the Southern League premier division central side deserved because for long periods of the game, noticeably all of the first half, they were far the better.
Braintree were quite clueless across the pitch being over run in midfield and a dreadful performance by the defence, not helped by a hesitant goalkeeper.
Needham Market equalise right at the death to force this fixture to a replay on Tuesday night #IronArmy | Forged in 1898 pic.twitter.com/JQEHsKXgnu
— Braintree Town FC (@braintreetownfc) September 19, 2026
Needham Market led 1-0 at the break thanks to a well-taken penalty following a poor tackle by full-back Luis Brown.
The Iron didn't manage a shot on goal in the first half, in what was probably their worst 45 minutes this season.
Manager Steve Pitt took drastic action during the interval, bringing on three substitutes.
They certainly changed the game for the Iron, with Louie Johnson equalising on 53 minutes and then George Evans putting them ahead, 10 minutes later.
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Yet again though, suspect defending allowed Needham Market to come back and equalise which they fully deserved.
Some of the football played by Braintree remained atrocious, which was hardly pleasing for the visiting fans in the 410 crowd.
It was another Iron substitute, Fletcher Hubbard, who scored a spectacular goal on 81 minutes to restore their lead.
🗣️ "I think the first 45 minutes since coming back as manager... is the worst 45 minutes any of my teams have delivered"
Hear from Steve Pitt after today's 3-3 draw in the Second Round Qualifyinghttps://t.co/6RLuLZxQI2#IronArmy | Forged in 1898 pic.twitter.com/GZM7iOVyaC— Braintree Town FC (@braintreetownfc) September 19, 2026
But frail defending again saw Needham Market push for another equaliser and it came deep into added time.
More dreadful defending and poor goalkeeping allowed home defender Jake Dyer to scramble the ball in the net at the far post, when in reality it should have been dealt with much easier and the ball cleared up field.
Admittedly, Pitt had several key players missing through injury but there can be no excuses for the performances of many players out on the pitch, particularly in the first half.
The Iron players will have to shake up their ideas in the replay if they are to progress further in the FA Cup.
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