City held by stoppage time equaliser

A 94th minute equaliser denied City victory against Braintree Town at Cressing Road this afternoon. Scott Wilson’s strike at the end of a sublime move on 62 minutes looked to have secured City the three points. The hosts only real threat all game had come from Watt’s towering long throws and it was from the final one that dropped for Blair to lash home the leveller.

In an even first half Braintree’s best chance came after 15 minutes when Ollie Wright misjudged Watt’s first long throw only for Dan Hayfield to clear the danger before an Iron player could pounce. City’s went close on 29 minutes when Dan Hayfield’s looping header was turned round the post by Blunkell.

The deadlock was broken just past the hour mark when a great passing move involving Ewan Clarke, Tom Smith and Hayfield ended with Wilson firing a shot into the roof of the net. Hayfield curled a 25-yard free kick narrowly wide then Smith saw a volley just miss the target. Lambe had hooked another Watt missile over from close range before Jordan Dyer denied Davies with a great block eight minutes from time. However, in the final minute of stoppage time City’s resistance was finally broken.