Our opponents Braintree Town are in a similar position to us in that they haven't played a full first team competitive fixture for two weeks. Like ourselves, Braintree were knocked out of the FA Cup in the second qualifying round, in their case by Enfield.  We filled the gap with a friendly while Braintree played a competitive fixture in midweek when they beat Tilbury 2-1 in the Essex Senior Cup.

This is Braintree's first season back at this level having been relegated from the National League last season.  After a stuttering start they're fifth in the National League South table with seven wins, one draw and four defeats but three of those defeats were in the first week of August as they began the season with losses to Bath, Billericay and Wealdstone.  Three games later they lost at Dartford but since then it's five wins and a draw from their last six league games.   Their away wins have been 3-0 at St Albans, 2-1 at Chippenham and their most impressive result of the season, a 3-1 victory at Havant and Waterlooville, Havant's only defeat of the season.

Braintree's main goal threat is Femi Akinwande, who has scored six goals, five of them in a four game spell at the end of August.  

Akinwande is one of many of the squad who signed on in the close season.  He was most recently with Concord Rangers, but has also worn shirts of Fisher, Maldon and Tiptree, Bishop's Stortford and East Thurrock.  He's also played at football league level with Colchester United.

This is Braintree's sixth visit to Longmead but their first since New Years Day 2005 when Tonbridge won an Isthmian League game 2-1. Alex Revell gave the Iron a 10th minute lead but Steve Sodje and Brendan Cass (penalty) both netted just before half-time.