WHILE he took the individual plaudits for his superb late winner against Dorking Wanderers, Braintree Town striker Femi Akinwande felt the Iron's latest success highlighted the close bonds they have built within their squad.

The Iron striker has been in superb form in the early part of the Vanarama National League South season and his last-gasp goal in Monday's 3-2 win against Dorking made it four games in a row that he has scored after his goal in the 2-1 defeat at Dartford on Saturday.

Braintree now have back-to-back away games - at Chippenham Town on Saturday and Concord Rangers on Tuesday - but 23-year-old’s latest strike came in particularly eye-catching fashion as he slammed home a shot in the fourth minute of time added on to snatch the win against Dorking.

It sparked wild celebrations all around Cressing Road and Akinwande felt it highlighted the heart and desire within the squad that manager Glen Driver has put together since June.

“It was a rough 90 minutes in that heat, but we dug in and thankfully I took my chance when I got it,” said the powerful Iron striker.

“It just shows how we fight for everything.

“Since Glen (Driver) came in, it’s been so important that we are one unit; if you play or you don’t play, everyone is together and that showed out there against Dorking.

“Getting a goal in the 90th minute and the way everyone celebrated - it showed how we work for each other as a team.”

Those close bonds have been evident in the strong partnership that Akinwande has formed alongside fellow Iron forwards Adam Mills and Tom Richardson in the early part of the season.

And after his quartet of goals in the last four games, he is confident Iron fans will see plenty more from their attacking unit as the campaign progresses.

He added: “Scoring four games in a row is good, but for me, it’s just a progress thing and I’m taking everything as it comes.

“With the support of Glen (Driver) and TK (assistant manager Tony Kinsella), them telling me I’m a good player and that I’m doing well, I think it helps me as a player.

“It’s a confidence thing for me.

“It’s a whole new team that’s come together here this year, so I think we’ve done well.

“Glen and TK have put us together and told us what they want from us and I think it’s coming to fruition in games like the one against Dorking.

“That one and the ones against Eastbourne and St Albans show what they are doing is working.

“It’s a growth thing and we have to keep progressing week after week.

“We have goals in our team and I think that’s something the fans can expect to see all season.”

Form like he is in will certainly catch the eye and Akinwande admits that, like all footballers, his ambition is to play professionally after having already had a two-year spell with League Two side Colchester United.

Akinwande would relish the chance to return to the Football League, but his main focus for now is helping Braintree Town, who he joined this summer, and hopes they can benefit from his bid to progress his career.

He said: “My main thing is to help the team because you want the team to do well and if something else comes from it then we’ll have to see.

“Every player’s aim is to play professionally, but your first goal is to help the club you’re at and if helping the club means you get to where you eventually want to be, then that’s great.”