BRAINTREE Town ran out 2-1 winners at Newmarket Town in a pre-season friendly, on Tuesday night, writes JON WEAVER.

The Iron completed their third friendly, travelling to play the Thurlow Nunn Premier Division side.

Having been unlucky to lose at Heybridge Swifts last weekend, they can this time consider themselves fortunate to win.

The evening had started brightly, with Seye Okunlola scoring after only three minutes, and four minutes later Romario Dunne adding a second.

Braintree looked in complete control, and Rhodell Gordon came close to extending the lead when he struck the crossbar after cutting inside from the right wing.

But the Jockeys were given a route back into the game when they were awarded an extremely soft penalty, the fifth Iron have conceded in three games.

Debutant Ryan Schmid dived low to his right to save and keep the score at the break at 2-0 to Braintree.

The second half was a completely different matter. The wind rose to 55 mph and Iron were penned back in their half.

The Jockeys showed more commitment and pulled one back when Ben Robinson rounded the keeper to slot home.

It took a series of saves from Schmid to maintain their lead, and there was a relief among supporters as the final whistle blew.

Braintree Town: Ryan Schmid, Johnville Renee, Charley O'Keefe, Kyran Clements, Lewis Ferrell, Olu Olu (George Forrest), Rhodell Gordon. Lucas Kirkpatrick (Zak Coulibaly), Romario Dunne, Seye Okunlola (Gary Wharton), Briggs Ojeman (Charley Barker).