ANGELO Harrop admits his Braintree Town side's first-half display in their friendly at Hornchurch was a 'wake-up call', writes DAVID WARD.

But the Iron boss was encouraged with what happened after that in their 1-1 draw with the National League South new boys, at Hornchurch Stadium.

At times, Braintree's new-look side were run off their feet by their hosts but a change of tactics and formation at half-time saw them rally and claim a draw.

Harrop said: "I know it's early days and we have again literally had to rebuild our side to compete at a higher level but I was disappointed with our first-half performance which lacked the intensity and being on the front foot as we have been in all games so far.

(Image: JON WEAVER)

"But it was a wake-up call and we changed things around at half-time and I felt in the second half we were more dominant going forward, created several good goalscoring chances.

"We know we've still a great deal of work to do on the training pitch before the season starts and it's aways hard to get new players to get to know their new colleagues.

"Also these games are always useful at looking at trialists but we are now reaching the stage to find a firmer and stronger team that will play the way we want them to play in what has everyone knows is a much stronger league than the one last season."

Having already played and beaten two sides in pre-season who were committed to a quick passing and pressing style, Hornchurch proved a totally different outfit with their quite physical approach and quick, long balls into the heart of the Iron defence.

(Image: JON WEAVER)

Iron assistant boss John White admitted the first half was disappointing but added: "It's always difficult to adjust when you come up against a team with a different, more direct style of play and players have to learn quickly to change and cope with this situation.

"It's also about building relationships with new players in a team and learning how each other plays the game and this 90 minutes was an extremely good test of character too.

"We changed things at half-time and it worked as we played much better all over the park, created some good goalscoring chances and were far more of a threat on their goal in that second half.

(Image: JON WEAVER)

"We've now two stiff tests coming up during the coming week to further develop the team as we face a Crystal Palace side on Tuesday and then the full Cambridge United first team on Friday.

"Both are at home (kick-off 7.45pm) and it was give our fans a first real chance to see how the new team are making progress.

"For the players too although they have been training at home, it will give them more of an incentive to make their debuts at Cressing Road in a proper match atmosphere."

(Image: JON WEAVER)

Braintree fell behind at Hornchurch from the penalty spot courtesy of a foul by one of two trialist Iron goalkeepers on show, allowing Charlee Adams to give them the advantage at the break.

But two minutes after the restart, Inih Effiong equalised from another spot-kick and from then on, the Iron had more control and wasted three or four decent chances to claim victory.