TIPTREE UTD............................0

BRAINTREE TOWN..................1

(Eastern Floodlight Competition)

Fielding a mixture of first and reserve players the Iron made hard work of overcoming their Jewson League opponents at Chapel Road on Tuesday.

With defences dominating goals were always going to be in short supply and Town's reserve goalkeeper Tony Cherry was not called upon to make a save of any note until late in the second half.

For the home side the experienced goalkeeper Syd Haygreen did well to pull off a couple of tremendous saves in the second period when it looked as if he and and his colleagues would salvage a point in this opening game in this season's competition.

Unfortunately for Haygreen though it was his basic mistake in the 77th minute that cost his side the points.

A poor clearance from him landed straight at the feet of Ian Renshaw who promptly planted the ball into the net with what will probably be his easiest goal of the season.

In a fairly sterile game of little excitement the Iron just about deserved their victory.

Iron's manager Richie Powling has confirmed that striker Robbie Reinelt has signed a contract to remain at Cressing Road for the remainder of this season.

The former Colchester United target man, who has been finding the net for Braintree this season, had been interesting several clubs including Conference League outfit Kidderminster plus Ryman Premier League side Dagenham & Redbridge, but he has now decided to stay with the Town.

Converted for the new archive on 19 November 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.