A moment of magic from Luke Piscina saw Tonbridge escape with a draw in this FA Cup tie at Longmead Stadium. The crowd of 600 endured a disappointing game, where Braintree played most of what constructive football there was.

Tonbridge were missing the hard-working Danny Lye through suspension. Tim Hambley returned from injury to take Lye's place in midfield, with Brendon Cass declared fit to start his first game for six weeks alongside Piscina up front. Skipper Craig Roser also returned from injury at left back.

The visitors dominated the first half-hour. Jamie Turner made fine saves from Mark Jones and James Baker to keep Tonbridge level, before Piscina's tricky run and shot finally brought Irons 'keeper Danny Gay into action and sparked an Angels response. Hambley and Steve Searle went close for the home side, who played their best football of the match going into the break.

John Beales replaced the hobbling Roser at half-time, with Matt Lee switching from right to left back. Braintree's Louis Riddle fired inches wide with Turner scrambling, and the visitors took a deserved lead on 54 minutes. Turner fumbled a cross to the feet of Baker, who gratefully accepted the gift.

Gay kept out Piscina's left-foot drive at the second attempt before an incident involving Piscina and Billy Burgess provoked a mass scuffle just past the hour. Referee Long booked the Angels striker and Braintree's Riddle when the fracas eventually died down.

It was Piscina who got the leveller out of the blue twenty minutes from time, turning and curling a beauty past Gay from the corner of the penalty area. It took a well-timed tackle from John Farley to end another dangerous Riddle run, but the game petered out somewhat tamely.

Report by: Tony Browne