Despite some disappointing recent results in which they have picked only two points from four games, Braintree remain very much in the Division One promotion race.

And if Iron can continue turning in some gritty and determined displays like they showed at wet and windy Grays on Tuesday evening then their chances of going up will improve.

It was a superb performance in terrible conditions and only marred by the fact that battling Braintree were deprived of their due desserts when Grays netted a stoppage time equaliser.

This was a bitter blow for Iron after having gained the upper hand with a vital goal in the 64th minute.

A corner kick by Scott Forbes was headed goalwards by Peter Cawley and there to apply the finishing touch was Paul Rippingale, who was having his first game since returning to the club.

Also included for his first team debut was 17-year-old local lad Gavin Cowan who did well in a central defensive role after some promising displays for the reserves.

Another big influence in the Braintree recovery was the return of key marksman Gary Bennett who helped restore the balance of the side with his leadership up front which has been missed recently.

Towards the end Bennett and Rippingale were withdrawn to enable fresh legs in Wade Falana and Terry Rayner to help in the final push, and both combined to almost add to Iron's slender lead before Grays struck with their late equaliser, it being netted by substitute Wilson.

Converted for the new archive on 19 November 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.