BRAINTREE Town assistant manager Danny Searle feels they should head to Ebbsfleet United with confidence on Boxing Day if they can match the intensity that they showed in their pre-Christmas game against Boreham Wood.

The Iron drew Saturday’s game 1-1 and stayed eight points from safety at the foot of the Vanarama National League table, but the quality of their display left them disappointed that it was only a point they took.

And Searle says a similar level of effort is now needed on Wednesday, just with a greater clinical edge in front of goal.

“We’re looking for the same again from our perspective,” he said.

“If we can replicate the same level of performance that we did against Boreham Wood, then I don’t see us having problems with anybody, other than us being more clinical because we need to take our chances.”

Braintree made two changes to their line-up for the game against Boreham Wood, with goalkeeper Ben Killip back from a lengthy ankle injury and Cameron James coming back to the club for a second loan spell from League Two side Colchester United.

And both had positive impacts on their returns.

Searle added: “Ben is a great goalkeeper.

“George Legg did a great job for us (during his loan from Reading) and Ashlee Jones has done a great job and I wouldn’t take anything away from them, but Ben brings us a little more confidence when it comes to coming off his line and sweeping up at the back.

“I think that showed against Boreham Wood.

“His distribution was good at times, but he is still a bit rusty as we’ve struggled to get him game time, but it was great to have him back.

“And Cameron James as well.

“He is a big plus for us and we didn’t want to lose him before, but Colchester needed him back and he’s their player.

“We have him back now, though, and we can hopefully start to put things right for that.”