A YOUTHFUL Braintree Town side beat neighbours Halstead Town 4-3 in a friendly at a rainswept Rare Breed Meat Company Stadium on Tuesday evening, writes DAVID WARD.

The inexperienced Iron side came back from being two goals down at half-time to score four impressive second-half goals and beat their Essex Senior League opponents.

With only Shaq Coulthirst, Leon Davies and Ben Watt included from the Braintree first-team squad, the rest of the team and substitutes was made up of youth players who all put in a commendable performance, in what was effectively a game of two halves.

Halstead certainly had the better of the first half, scoring twice as the Iron found it hard to get to grips with their a livewire attack and also the tricky conditions.

The second half was in complete contrast though with young Jack Roberts, who came on as a late substitute for his first-team debut in their home win over Dover Athletic last Saturday, scored a remarkable goal on 50 minutes.

He dribbled and skipped past defenders to fire in a great shot from outside the area and into the far top corner of the net.

Coulthirst then showed his quality with a fine equaliser on 52 minutes before the young 18 year-old then added his second and the Iron's third goal on 55 minutes from the penalty spot, after he had been hauled down in the area to draw the sides level.

On 66 minutes, it was Coulthirst who again showed his quality by driving home Iron's fourth goal.

The visitors did pull one goal back in the dying minutes of the game but by then, Braintree had done more than enough in their improved second-half performance to win.

Next up for the Iron is a trip to Chippenham Town on Saturday, kick-off 3pm.