BRAINTREE TOWN suffered penalty heartbreak after losing to St Albans City in the FA Trophy this afternoon.

The Iron battled superbly against their National League South counterparts, despite only having ten men for much of the game.

However, after the game had finished 0-0, St Albans City claimed a 6-5 win on spot-kicks to progress to the fourth round.

Braintree produced a fine defensive display to keep their hosts at bay, especially after Marcus Johnson-Schuster was shown a straight red card for a bad tackle after just 15 minutes.

However, Ryan Maxwell's side bowed out after losing on penalties.

 

BRIGHTLINGSEA REGENT claimed an excellent 1-0 win over Merstham, in the Pitching In Isthmian League Premier.

Zack Littlejohn's goal with seven minutes remaining gave the R's a fine away victory. They finished the game with only ten men, after having Kane Gilbert sent off with four minutes to go.

The win moves Regent out of the bottom two.

HEYBRIDGE SWIFTS were involved in a thrilling eight-goal encounter with Barking at the Aspen Waite Arena, in division north.

Swifts found themselves two goals down inside 23 minutes.

But two goals in the space of four minutes from Dan Walker and Karl Kayembe got Steve Tilson's side back on level terms.

Barking restored their lead midway through the second half and when they made it 4-2 with nine minutes to go, things looked difficult for Heybridge.

But Lionel Ainsworth pulled a goal back and after Ainsworth had a penalty saved, Sam Carter's late strike rescued a point for Swifts as the match finished 4-4.

WITHAM TOWN played out a 0-0 draw at Tilbury.

STANWAY ROVERS played out an entertaining 3-3 draw with Athletic Newham, in the Essex Senior League.

LITTLE OAKLEY were 4-0 winners over Southend Manor to claim a second straight win. Harry Mann, Danny Garrad, Sam Cooke and Jamie Dobkin were all on target for the Acorns.

In Thurlow Nunn League first division south, league leaders HALSTEAD TOWN won 3-1 at WIVENHOE TOWN, in a cracking match.

The Dragons had a number of really good chances but it was a great win for the Humbugs, who were reduced to ten men when the teams were locked at 1-1.

Alfie Cleal gave Halstead the lead but that was cancelled out after half-time by Tom Holdstock, who netted against his old club for the Dragons.

Halstead’s task got a little harder after Holdstock went down under Garry Burdett's challenge and the Humbugs defender got a red card for his trouble, leaving the visitors to see out the final ten minutes or so with ten men.

However, the Humbugs restored their advantage through Jordan Palmer, who scored from the spot after he had been fouled in the box.

And the visitors wrapped up their win soon after when Palmer superbly volleyed in, after Adam Hampson had knocked the ball down.