Braintree Town need not look too far for inspiration as they head into the traditional festive feast of football action.

The Iron are precariously perched this current Yuletide and head into Christmas fixtures against Boreham Wood, Ebbsfleet United (twice) and Maidenhead United still propping up the Vanarama National League table.

They are five points behind the next team above them and a full nine from the side sat fifth from bottom in the last of those outside the relegation zone.

On the face of it, it's a dire situation.

The team have taken just a solitary point from the last 18 on offer and relegation is more than just a threat.

But being negative about the situation isn't going to help anyone associated with Cressing Road and it's got to be far more profitable for players, staff and fans alike to try to look for positives.

True, results have gone against Braintree in recent weeks as they have through much of the season, but no-one - other than perhaps Solihull Moors in the second half of their 3-0 win - has played the Iron off the park in recent games.

It has always been by fine margins that Braintree have come off worst and if they can just be positive then I'm sure things will pick up heading into the New Year.

Whether that will be enough to get them clear of trouble now will only become apparent in the final reckoning, but we'll see.

It's a shame as it's so different from 12 months ago, when - albeit at the lower level of the National League South - Braintree headed into the festive fixtures sharing the lead at the top of the table with Dartford.

All thoughts were inevitably positive then and it's hard to conjure up such thoughts when in the thick of a relegation battle.

However, the Iron need only look a few miles along the B1018 to find at least some level of inspiration that their plight may not be as helpless as it currently looks.

A month ago, Witham Town found themselves in a not too dissimilar situation in Bostik League division north.

They were sat rock bottom, seven points adrift of the side directly above them, and although they had enjoyed some cup successes, had not won a league game in 11 attempts.

There was debate from some quarters that the season was already doomed for them, but wind the clock on a month and the situation is looking very different.

A draw at Felixstowe and Walton has been followed by three back-to-back wins and while there is still plenty of work ahead, Witham have got themselves out of the relegation zone and back in touch with the sides above.

And that's how quickly things can change in football.

Braintree's players and fans need to remember how things changed on the back of the draw at Salford and wins against Dover and Bromley and how the sides above suddenly came back into focus.

Witham have shown it's possible and it's happened before for the Iron so let's try to stay positive and keep believing because we may as well all pack up and go home now if not.

I did a story this week with Witham manager Mark Ashford where he talked about feeling the responsibility for the situation when his team were getting cut adrift at the foot of the table.

It's the same when chatting with Iron boss Hakan Hayrettin and I can sense that the burden of where the team finds itself - although not just on him in this case - is on his shoulders.

But Mark Ashford kept faith with his players and the club and their supporters kept faith with him and they are now being repaid.

Braintree have to do the same - it's the only way they will stand any chance of getting to safety.

There are plenty of games coming up in the next two weeks and things can change quickly over Christmas.

After all, it's the time of year for wishes to come true.