BRAINTREE Town bowed out of the FA Trophy at the fourth-round stage after losing 1-0 at National League side Eastleigh, writes DAVID WARD.

When a manager goes out of his way to praise the opposition and then admits the result could have gone either way, it's clear the Iron were somewhat unfortunate to return from the Silverlake Stadium not still in the competition.

Braintree, down to the bare bones in terms of player availability with just two substitutes on the bench, put in an exceptionally excellent performance against the full-timers, who are pushing for a promotion place.

The Iron players never-say-die attitude certainly impressed the 30-odd Iron fans in the 1,000 strong crowd.

Eastleigh's vastly experienced manager Lee Bradbury said: "We know that over the years Braintree always come here well organised and determined to upset the odds and they certainly came close to winning this contest.

"They never let us settle into our normal game and they worked really hard to close us down all afternoon.

"It took a really exceptional goal from us late one to secure our win but it was tough going."

"On the day they raised their game and they were far better team than some of the sides we have met this season in the top National League division and they made it difficult for us in every department."

Iron assistant boss Steve Pitt said he and manager Angelo Harrop were delighted at the way the under strength side compete for every ball from the off.

He said: "I felt we struggled in the first ten minutes to cope with their rotation because they are a very good side when all said and done.

"But we then managed to set our stall out to combat their style of play and when toe to toe with them in every department.

"I think that it was probably our best performance of the season and I knew it would have to be an exceptional goal to beat us and it was but even then so late in the game we had two exceptional chances to have equalised.

"All the players worked their socks off, stuck to our game plan and had we had that little bit of luck I am sure we could have equalised and then it would have gone straight to penalties, with no extra time or replay.

"Had that happened I was confident we could have won the penalty shoot out even though I thought we could have won it in the second half when we were so dominant."

Eastleigh's crucial winning goal came in the 79th minute when Danny Whitehall, being watched by a host of Football League clubs, turned on the edge of the area and fired a tremendous first-time shot in off the inside angle of the crossbar and upright, defying Iron keeper Jack Sims's last-gasp effort to keep it out.

"It was an exceptional strike from clearly a good player and no goalkeeper could have stopped it then creeping into the net," added Pitt.

"But what we are proud of is the way the whole team responded by going a goal down and continued to take the game to them and with a bit of luck on the day it could have gone our way."

Braintree will have two new faces for their rearranged BBC Essex Senior Cup at Southend United on Tuesday (kick-off 7.30pm) before returning to league duty at home to Bath City, on Saturday.

An extra incentive in the BBC Essex Senior Cup is the prospect of a tie at Colchester United, in the next round.