BRAINTREE TOWN 1 EBBSFLEET UNITED 1

FA Trophy third round

Braintree and Ebbsfleet will have to go through an FA Trophy replay to find out who gets to meet North Ferriby United in the quarter-finals after nothing could separate them in their last-16 clash.

It was a scrappy game on a chilly night in Braintree with both sides lacking the necessary quality in the final third of the pitch to make a decisive break.

That’s not to say the game wasn’t entertaining as it was very open, with chances for both, but there was only one goal apiece at the end and they will meet again next Tuesday at the PHB Stadium.

The first attempt to play the third round tie was postponed due to a waterlogged pitch at the Miles Smith Stadium on Saturday, but there was no problem this time.

Iron boss Alan Devonshire was able to include Ryan Peters, after a hamstring injury, and also Jordan Cox, after an illness, in his starting line-up.

However, it was the visitors who grabbed the initiative in the early stages when Adam Cunnington forced the ball home from close range after some poor defence at a corner.

The physically commanding Conference South side remained dangerous at set pieces throughout, but after conceding early, Braintree settled and looked to get back into the game.

Their position as the higher-placed team showed as they looked the better side from open play and were most dangerous when getting the ball into wide positions.

But Ebbsfleet were still a threat at the other end as the game remained open and Nick Hamann made a wonderful save from a Theo Lewis effort to keep the deficit to one goal.

Matt Johnson should really have extended the visitors’ lead towards the end of the half, but could only prod the ball wide after Cunnington had headed the ball down in the box.

And that proved costly as Braintree equalised as the clock ticked down to half-time.

A brilliant move started by Chez Isaac released Dan Sparkes and his cross was almost turned into his own net by Kelvin Langmead.

However, from the subsequent corner, Matt Paine was bundled over clumsily in the area by Kenny Clark and referee Nigel Lugg had no hesitation in pointing to the penalty spot.

Kenny Davis stepped forward and confidently rammed the ball into the back of the net to make sure Braintree ended the half deservedly on level terms.

The game remained open in the second half with Ebbsfleet pushing the Iron back for long periods, but the hosts also had opportunities as they looked dangerous in open play.

However, there was the lack of cutting edge in the final third at both ends of the pitch, with neither making the most of the chances they created.

That meant the game ended in a draw and a replay beckons when they will have to do it all again in Kent on Tuesday.