SOUTHPORT 1 BRAINTREE TOWN 1

Vanarama National League

Braintree Town may not have extended their winning run to a fourth game, but the point they earned on their trip to Southport means they have now met the first of their season’s objectives.

Manager Danny Cowley has always said that 50 points should guarantee his team’s Vanarama National League position for another season and they have now achieved that primary target.

Dan Sparkes put the Iron ahead with a goal in the 35th minute as they went looking for an eighth away win of the campaign and past form indicated that they would do that once they had their noses in front.

Braintree had never conceded a goal on their previous four visits to Haig Avenue and hadn’t had their back line pierced in any of their last three games.

However, they did concede on this occasion as they were pegged back by the hosts in the second half.

The Iron made just one change from the side that started their previous outing ten days earlier, with Michael Cheek back into the line-up in place of the suspended Sean Marks.

It was a tricky Haig Avenue playing surface with plenty of sand put down to help firm it up but it was nothing that the visitors weren’t used to and they quickly settled.

Simeon Akinola had the better of the early efforts as a looping shot was saved by home keeper Max Crocombe and his 18th minute free-kick went just over the bar from 20 yards.

However, Braintree did take the lead before half-time when Sparkes started and finished a move.

The winger’s free-kick saw the Iron break down the right-hand side and when a cross into the middle wasn’t claimed cleanly by Crocombe, Sparkes was well-placed to tuck away the loose ball.

That was how it stayed at the break, but the hosts found themselves back level 12 minutes after the restart.

The Iron had been unable to build on their lead and they were pegged back when Paul Rutherford’s cross was fired home by Louis Almond for Southport’s first goal against Braintree on their own patch.

The game became scrappier as it progressed on the difficult surface.

There was a good chance for the hosts when Andy Bishop found himself on his own in the Braintree area six yards out but hit his shot was wide of the target.

Cowley made attacking substitutions in pursuit of another three points in the closing stages, but there was no further scoring and the Iron had to be content with just the one this time.

But it was an important one and, with league survival now in the bag, they can now reassess their season’s targets.

Braintree: Michael Crowe, Sam Habergham, Mark Phillips, Matt Fry, Remy Clerima, Matt Paine, Kenny Davis (Taylor Miles 80), Alex Woodyard, Dan Sparkes (Joe Gardner 75), Simeon Akinola, Michael Cheek (Anthony Edgar 87).

Subs not used: Harry Anderson, Chez Isaac,.

Referee: Martin Coy.