A MOMENT of madness effectively cost Braintree Town a point after they were beaten 2-1 by Maidstone United in a tense contest at the Dunmow Group Stadium, writes DAVID WARD.

For the vast majority of the match, the Iron were the better side against their National League South title-chasing visitors, in front of a crowd of 714.

Braintree conceded on 57 minutes with a momentarily lapse of concentration in defence

But the Iron were back on level terms six minutes later when skipper Matt Johnson fired home a penalty, after defender Regan Booty had handled on the line and was sent off.

However, Maidstone restored their lead within a minute when Iron keeper Billy Johnson came running out of his area to lose both sight and contact with the ball, allowing a grateful Jack Barham to lob the ball into an empty net.

It was a bitter blow for the Iron players who had fought hard throughout and should really should have won the match, on clearcut chances and attacking pressure.

Braintree manager Ryan Maxwell said: "It's bitterly disappointing to lose this game because we created so many chances and caused them real problems every time we attacked them.

"We were 1-0 down due to a brief slack moment in our defence which has been so solid for us in recent weeks.

"We deservedly then clawed our way back into the game with a penalty which was quite right as a blatant handball on the goal line and it stopped us from equalising.

"They always say in football you are at your most vulnerable when you've just scored in a game and that proved to be the case.

"It has to go down as a goalkeeping error but that's part of football but I won't criticise Billy for there have been games when his brilliant saves have kept us in the game and earned us points.

"He's done exceptionally well for us and got us out of jail more than once and I'm sure he will get over this and be back on top form in our next game.

"In fairness to all the players they weren't demoralised by this setback and again, as in the latter part of the first half we were on top and causing all kinds of pressure and I felt we should have had what was a clear penalty at this time."

Braintree's players were rightly incensed in the 50th minute when Shae Hutchinson was crudely brought down from behind by Jermone Binnom-Williams as he ran to the edge of the area.

As the last man, Binnom-Williams should have been sent off but referee Ruebyn Ricardo chose only to book the Maidstone defender.

"The defender was the last man and should have gone but there's nothing you can do about it in the end and you just have to accept the referee made a mistake," added Maxwell.

"Over the 90 minutes I felt we were the better side and it was a tremendous performance but sometimes the odd crucial little thing doesn't go your way and that's what happened in this game.

After a nervy start by both sides it was the Iron who began to take control in the latter part of the first half.

They were unlucky not to have taken the lead on 27 minutes when Hutchinson's fierce half-volley looked goalbound until Binnom-Williams cleared it off the line, with keeper Tom Hadler well beaten.

In the final five minutes of added time at the end of the 90 minutes the Iron continued to pulverise the visitors' goalmouth.

Buta second equaliser eluded them as Maidstone claimed victory to move to the top of the table, while the Iron stay 15th.

"Yes, it was disappointing but we forget what might have been and now concentrate on our next match at Slough on Saturday and for the players to get back to winning ways," added Maxwell.

Braintree Town: Johnson; Ola Williams, Porter, Clements, Pennell; Crichlow, Johnson, Payne (80 Mbonkwi), Hutchinson (70 Ilic); Noel-Williams (62 Holness), Fischer; Unused subs: Jones, Patmore.