A GOAL three minutes into added time cruelly robbed Braintree Town of at least a deserved point after they lost 3-2 at Slough Town in an entertaining encounter at Arbour Park, writes DAVID WARD.

It mean for the second game in a row the Iron lost by one goal and like against Oxford City in midweek, they had done more than enough to have drawn this game played again behind closed doors.

The Iron gave a debut to former Billericay Town and East Thurrock United keeper Jack Giddens.

Boss Ryan Maxwell reshuffled his starting line-up, with fit-again Kyran Clements and George Allen back in the side.

In an end to end game, the Iron again played as they had in the second half against Dartford but were unlucky to go behind on 39 minutes with a deflected goal from the home side’s Warren Harris.

Braintree were level just two minutes later though when Arjanit Krasniqi chased down a loose ball to the home keeper and slid it into the net.

Before both goals, Corry Davidson and Tom Derry saw shots scrambled away off the home goal line.

It was the same in the second half with both sides attacking hard yet Slough snatched the lead on 57 minutes when Ben Harris headed home.

But once again the Iron struck back quickly through the livewire Ade Yussuf.

He was hauled down in the area just past the hour and he dusted himself down to slot the penalty home to level.

The Iron continued to press hard for a winning goal and they were unlucky on 71 minutes when Derry's header came back of the inside the home post.

And ten minutes later, Davidson was unlucky when his shot was somehow blocked on the home goal line before being cleared.

But football can be a cruel game and despite all these threats and just when it looked like the game would finish as a draw, Slough struck.

The home side’s Ryan Bird managed to squeeze the ball home in this third minute of stoppage time, leaving the Iron players shattered.

Nevertheless, it was yet a continued overall improving display by the Iron who now go to Maidstone United on Tuesday evening looking for a win against their old manager, Hakan Hayrettin.

Braintree Town: Giddens; Allen (sub Johnson-Schuster, 70), Clements, Olomowewe (sub Smith, 90), Renee; Thomas, Johnson, Krasniqi, Davidson; Derry, Yussuf. Subs (not used): Kyangebeni, Prestedge, Charles.