JODY Brown was delighted that his Heybridge Swifts side secured their place in the Essex Senior Cup semi-final.

However, the manager believes his side must maintain their discipline and concentration after they finished their 3-2 success against Aveley with ten men and had to rely on a Jack Barham injury-time goal to seal the win after leading 2-0 at Scraley Road on Tuesday night.

Red cards for Swifts’ Lee Townrow and Aveley keeper James Marrable saw both sides finish the game with reduced numbers.

Brown said: “To be honest after Townrow was sent off we lost our way and didn’t really regroup.

“All credit to Aveley for coming back into the game.

“But we stuck in there and eventually got the goal.

“And that is credit to players, after losing a 2-0 lead that is a kick in the teeth.

“But they stuck together and got the win and I am delighted for them.

“It’s just a shame we lost our discipline but it is a big boost before our match against Cray Wanderers on Saturday.”

The home side took the lead when Lamar Reynolds’ free-kick was headed into the top corner by Jack Fowler on 14 minutes.

Aveley were reduced to ten men on 34 minutes when keeper James Marrable was sent off for bringing down Swifts’ Barham.

However, the Aveley keeper also had to be carried off the pitch due to injury.

Three minutes into first half injury-time Barham made it 2-0 with a half-volley from 15 yards.

After the break, Swifts were also reduced to ten men when Townrow was sent off for an off the ball incident on 49 minutes.

Aveley got back into the game on 61 minutes through Liam Nash and then equalised on 73 minutes when Arian Retkoceri fired home from close range.

But Swifts sealed the win three minutes into injury-time when Reynolds’ cross was headed in by Barham.

And Brown believes his side will show no fear against division high flyers Cray on Saturday.

Brown’s Scraley Road side ended a four-game Ryman League north losing streak with a 2-2 derby draw against Witham Town on Saturday.

But this weekend they travel to third-placed Cray in their bid to move away from the drop zone.

Brown said: “I think that we will be seen as underdogs going into the Cray game.

“You only have to look at the league table to see the difference between the sides.

“We know it’s going to be a tough game but we don’t fear teams in this league.

“I know we have lost games but our style of play hasn’t merited the defeats.

“If you look at the margins they have been very tight.

“We won’t fear Cray.

“When we played them earlier in the season we lost 1-0 and that was to a 87th minute set play goal.

“It’s fine margins again.”

Brown knows his side can perform at a high level but at times are their own worst enemy.

He added: “I feel that we are playing well at the moment.

“However, we do have ten minute lapses that cost us.

“And that is what we have to address.

“When we lose our way in a game for ten minutes that is when other teams hurt us.

“Sometimes we are controlling the game but don’t get the results.”