BRAINTREE Town boss Angelo Harrop was disappointed his side were unable to make their first-half dominance count after they were held to a 0-0 draw at home to Chippenham Town, writes DAVID WARD.

The Iron were outstanding in the first period of the National League South clash at Cressing Road, played their best football so far this season creating several good chances but in the end failed to find the net.

Harrop said: "I think we played really well in the first half with some excellent approach work the visitors simply couldn't cope with and any neutral watching would have expected us to be at least three goals or more up by the interval.

"How we didn't score then I don't know but as everyone knows in football at any level if you don't take your chances when on top then you're likely to pay for it later on.

Braintree and Witham Times:

"Fortunately that didn't happen in this game and I'm pleased we kept a clean sheet as it was a draw but I think like the previous week's draw at Dover Athletic, we should have won both games comfortably which would have meant another four points on the board.

"We know we have to work harder and take our chances because at this level if you don't then it could mean you end up losing the game but full marks though to the players they battled on."

Considering Harrop was down to literally the bare bones of players in his squad with three first teamers out injured and striker Nnamdi Nwachuku having left the club in midweek for Cheshunt after Braintree cancelled his contract, this was even more a remarkable result bearing in mind they only had two real substitutes on the bench.

Braintree and Witham Times:

It meant a debut for 19 year-old forward Arnold Matshazi, a former Wycombe Wanderers youngster currently without a club.

He did extremely well but naturally tired in the final 15 minutes, having not played much football recently.

"All the players on the day did really well and even though I had little options on the bench I still think we were the better side and deserved to win," explained Harrop.

"We know the visitors are a good, well organised side and they came more into the game in the second half but again in the last ten minutes or so of the game we put them under enormous pressure and had one effort kicked off the line and three or four other chances go begging."

Braintree and Witham Times:

It was certainly a game of two halves with the Iron dominating the first, with Will Davies, Tom Blackwell and Matshazi all going to close with visiting keeper Will Henry pulling off some fine saves.

At the start of the second half it was Iron keeper Jack Sims who pulled off two fine saves to deny the visitors going ahead and with several Iron players performing well, such as defender Joe Grimwood, young loanee midfielder Ben Tomkins and Reggie Lambe, they kept plugging away trying to break the deadlock.

In the final flurry of the game, it was Braintree who came closest to scoring but with some last-gasp defending and another shot kicked off the line on 85 minutes the visitors held on and went home with a welcome point.

For the Iron fans in the 516 crowd, it was a disappointing end to a game that they should have won.

Next up for the Iron is a Bank Holiday Monday long away trip to Torquay United, kick off 3pm before returning home to play Worthing next Saturday, again with a 3pm kick-off.