Assistant manager Barry Bolton feels Braintree Town still look like they belong in the Vanarama National League, despite the Iron staying lodged in the bottom two in the table.

It has been a tough start to the season for them and Saturday’s 1-0 defeat by Maidstone United – that came courtesy of a 95th minute penalty for the Stones – left Braintree with just one win from 12 games.

It’s not the opening spell they were hoping for, but Bolton insists players and staff believe they are justifiably in the top flight of non-league football.

And while he knows more points have to be put on the board, he feels results aren’t reflecting how the team are playing.

Bolton said: “We worked so hard to get promoted from this league and we’re ahead of schedule in achieving that.

“But that’s what we are here for.

“Our ambition was to play at this level and I don’t think we have been embarrassed at all so far this season.”

Braintree are set to go again on Tuesday when they will hope to bounce back from the defeat by Maidstone.

It is against National League leaders, Leyton Orient, but Bolton insists that won’t faze his players.

He added: “We have competed in every game and I’ll say to everyone: don’t worry about Leyton Orient, we will give them a game, we want it really badly.

“We will regroup, but there’s no secret that there is a massive difference in resources that the two clubs have.

“So far we have acquitted ourselves really well and I don’t think the points we have reflect where we should be.

“I’m not saying we should be vying for promotion, but I think it’s fine margins and it’s one or two per cent improvement in every area and we will turn these results around.

“None of us have lost belief, as frustrated as we all are at the moment.”