Hit by a growing injury crisis, Braintree saw their fast disappearing promotion hopes take another knock with Saturday's third successive home defeat.

Deprived of seven regular senior squad members, Iron were forced to make a last minute cancellation of a reserve team fixture in order to field a side against visitors Chertsey who, by contrast, came full of enthusiasm after a run of four straight wins.

So there was a somewhat unreal atmosphere at Cressing Road as a strangely assorted Braintree team kicked off at the unusual hour of 1pm to avoid a clash with the televised Wembley international.

Without three members of his normal back four, Trevor Gunn rearranged his defensive forces by utilising skipper Nicky Smith as a makeshift sweeper, alongside himself and a less than 100 per cent fit Peter Cawley.

But the formation never looked comfortable, while Smith's customary influence in midfield was sadly missed as Braintree struggled to impose any kind of grip on the game.

Iron had to rely more than usual on Simon Milton to conjure up some magic, but even he was unable to create much of an impression apart from a couple of goal attempts that failed to find the target.

All too often Braintree's approach work broke down before Chertsey could be put under any threat and the visitors looked the more positive side.

It came as no surprise therefore when Braintree's suspect defence was eventually exposed in the 27th minute.

A quick raid down the right resulted in Neil Selby getting a glancing header to Warren Bayliss's cross to give John Cheesewright no chance.

Bayliss then went close with another header as Braintree were caught flat-footed following a free kick, but it was not long before Chertsey struck again with their second goal.

Terry Rayner had gone down after colliding with goalkeeper Graham Benstead, but the referee allowed play to continue and with an immediate surge upfield, Chertsey again found a big gap with Selby making no mistake by tucking the ball past Cheesewright.

Two possible chances fell to Braintree before the interval, with Rayner just unable to connect with a cross from John Devine, while Paul Betson headed over from what was probably Iron's best opportunity to date.

In the second half Braintree reverted to a more conventional line-up with Smith moving forward and they looked better for the switch.

At last Chertsey were being put under pressure and Iron almost got the goal they badly needed.

A corner kick from Smith had Benstead in difficulties before he managed to tip the ball over. From Rayner's resultant flag kick, Gunn got in a header that rebounded down from the crossbar only to be hacked away amid Braintree claims that the ball had crossed the line.

Braintree were now getting on top and their hopes were revived when Paul Rippingale got away on the right before cutting in to score from an acute angle.

Paul Knight then went close with a long range shot but despite a much improved second half showing Iron could not summon up an equaliser although Milton and substitute Aubrey McLeod both had near misses.

Braintree Town: Cheesewright, Knight, Vincent, Cawley, Gunn, Milton, Smith, Betson (McLeod), Devine, Rippingale (Bryant) and Rayner.

Forthcoming fixtures: Saturday, April 3 v Staines Town, away, Ryman League, 3pm; Monday, April 5 v Canvey Island at Cressing Road, Ryman League, 3pm

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