Through their inability to build on a bright start on Saturday, Braintree missed the chance to put an end to their winless run which now stretches to 10 games.

On paper at least Iron looked stronger than they have done for several weeks with the return of key defenders Lee Hunter and Mark Keen plus new signing Colin Wall making his Cressing Road debut.

Even so there was still four regulars missing.

Only five minutes had elapsed before Keen had the ball in the Worthing net when he headed home a Nicky Smith free kick, but the goal was disallowed.

Soon afterwards Worthing lost full back Mark Knee who had to be stretchered off with a serious leg injury following a crunching collision with Simon Milton as both went for a 50/50 ball.

For most of the first half Braintree pressed forward with some penetrating raids especially down the flanks which resulted in a number of inviting crosses to put the visitors goal under constant threat.

From one set piece Keen came up to get in another powerful header that went only inches over and soon afterwards came the best opportunity of all.

A centre by Milton was returned into the goalmouth by Lee Owen but with the goal at his mercy Smith contrived to turn the ball over the bar when it would have been far easier to score.

This miss was highlighted seconds later when Worthing broke free from Iron's stranglehold and completely against the run of play the Sussex side snatched the lead.

In the 35th minute what began from a suspiciously offside position a swift sortie down the right ended with Marc Rice getting a touch to Guy Rutherford's cross and diverting the ball past Nicky Rust in the home goal.

So at the interval instead of going in two or three goals to the good Braintree found themselves one down and having it all to do in the second half if they were to put matters right.

Eventually the long overdue equaliser arrived in the 59th minute when a Nicky Smith corner was flicked goalwards by Keen.

The ball was blocked on the line but the rebound came out to Declan Perkins who promptly despatched it into the net and Braintree were back in business.

However, things took another turn for the worse a couple of minutes later when a melee in the Braintree goalmouth erupted into a personal duel between Wall and Rice.

The Worthing man appeared to have been fouled, but then he appeared to retaliate by aiming punches, which led to a general scrimmage.

The upshot of it all was a red card for Wall but only a yellow for Rice plus the award of a penalty to Worthing.

From the spot kick Miles Rutherford blazed high, wide and not very handsome to present Braintree with a reprieve.

Although down to 10 men for the last half hour Braintree still had chances to wrap up the points, but generally their finishing was not all it could have been and some good opportunities slipped by.

Then to crown yet another disappointing afternoon for the Cressing Road fans, Braintree had even the one point snatched from their grasp when Worthing netted a last ditch winner, Guy Rutherford the scorer.

Braintree Town: Rust, Hunter, Milton, Wall, Keen, Reinelt, Brett (Woolnough), Perkins, Owen, Smith and Cowan.

Forthcoming fixtures: Saturday, December 18 v Oxford City, away, Ryman League Division One, 3pm; Tuesday, December 21 v Romford, home, Essex Senior Cup, 7.30pm.

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