Braintree Town tumbled to a surprise home defeat to Dorchester Town, as the new Blue Square South campaign began in earnest.

The Iron, who reached last season’s play-offs before losing in the semi-finals, lost 1-0 at Cressing Road.

A late goal by former Yeovil Town winger Nick Crittenden, scored nine minutes from time, was enough to seal victory for the Magpies and condemn Braintree to their first defeat of the season.

Iron manager Lee Patterson could not hide his disappointment, following the defeat.

He said: “I think 0-0 would have been a fairer reflection on the game but they took their chance and we didn’t.

“It was a massive anti-climax and I hate losing but we didn’t do enough to test their goalkeeper.”

For a long time it looked as though the game was heading for a goal-less draw.

In an attempt to seal three points, Patterson made a double substitution on the hour mark when he replaced Dave Bryant and Lee Burns with new signings Wayne O’Sullivan and former Barnet man, Giuliano Grazioli.

However, it was Dorchester who finished the stronger.

And when Crittenden struck late on, Braintree were unable to force an equaliser.

“I felt we needed to make a change and they responded better than we did to that,” added Patterson, who could now make changes for Braintree’s trip to Welling United on Tuesday.

“Perhaps my substitution was not the right one and I hold my hands up to that.

“As a manager you live and die by your decisions but I certainly did not ask my players to start playing the high ball to our forwards, which is what we did.”