Louis Almond's late free-kick earned Lincoln a point against Braintree in a thrilling encounter.

A Jefferson Louis header put Lincoln in front, before Braintree's Jai Reason equalised with an angled drive.

Reason's superb finish put the visitors ahead, before Tyrone Thompson's long-range strike restored parity.

Brit Assombalonga's close-range shot put Braintree ahead, but Almond's free-kick made it 3-3 before Assombalonga was sent off for a second booking.

VIEWS FROM THE DRESSING ROOM

Imps manager David Holdsworth told BBC Lincolnshire:

"We were very pleasing going forward but a couple of their goals were disappointing. It's old-fashioned basic defending and they should have been dealt with better by us.

"We had so many chances in the first half to put the game to bed, some super play and we contested the game and how we came in equal I'm still not sure.

"I felt there were some interesting decisions. The linesmen didn't get involved and certainly didn't work with the referee as they should do.

"We've come out of it feeling like it's a good point against a good side but disappointed that we haven't taken all three. I felt we were comfortable but when you give away silly goals it doesn't help, but the spirit in the camp has been magnificent and they've worn the shirt with pride."

Braintree Town assistant manager Keith Rowland told BBC Essex:

"To have a decision against us right in the last few minutes of the game was a bit disappointing.

"Only one person in the ground thought it wasn't a penalty, and that was the referee. [Assombalonga was shown a second yellow card for diving in the box]

"Their goalkeeper said there was contact, the fourth official said it looked like a penalty. It's just disappointing that it's another result where we've lost [points] off the back of a decision."

Lineup, Bookings (5) & Substitutions (5)

Lincoln City

  • 01 Anyon
  • 02 Watson
  • 03 Nutter
  • 05 Gowling
  • 17 Nicolau (Almond - 67' )
  • 27 Christophe
  • 31 Bore
  • 34 Thompson
  • 10 Louis
  • 12 Platt (Rodney - 83' )
  • 16 Pacquette (Russell - 90' )

Substitutes

  • 21 Draper
  • 04 Williams
  • 15 Russell
  • 28 Almond
  • 43 Rodney

Braintree Town

  • 01 McDonald
  • 03 Thomas
  • 04 Bailey-Dennis Booked
  • 05 Paine
  • 24 Wells
  • 06 Reason
  • 07 Symons Booked (Quinton - 74' )
  • 08 Davis
  • 14 Assombalonga Dismissed after an earlier booking
  • 26 Kiernan (O'Connor - 90' )
  • 09 Marks Booked

Substitutes

  • 22 Jones
  • 16 O'Connor
  • 15 Quinton
  • 02 Peters
  • 25 Pooley
Ref: West
Att: 1,616

Match Stats

Shots

11 13

On target

8 4

Corners

9 2

Fouls

15 11

Live Text Commentary

90:00 +6:32 Full time

Full Time The game is over, as the referee blows his whistle.

90:00 +4:43 Dismissal

Dismissal Britt Assombalonga receives a red card for second bookable offence.

90:00 +2:44 Goal scored

Goal - Louis Almond - Lincoln 3 - 3 Braintree Louis Almond finds the net with a goal direct from the free kick from just outside the penalty box to the bottom left corner of the goal. Lincoln City 3-3 Braintree Town.

90:00 +1:56 Substitution

Substitution (Braintree Town) makes a substitution, with Pat O'Connor coming on for Brendan Kiernan.

90:00 +1:56 Booking

Booking The referee cautions Sean Marks for unsporting behaviour.

90:00 +0:32

Sean Marks challenges Louis Almond unfairly and gives away a free kick.

89:53 Substitution

Substitution Simon Russell comes on in place of Richard Pacquette.

89:05

Corner taken by Louis Almond from the right by-line.

88:14

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Sean Marks by Richard Pacquette. Brad Quinton produces a shot on goal direct from the free kick.

87:06

Assist on the goal came from Brad Quinton.

87:06 Goal scored

Goal - Britt Assombalonga - Lincoln 2 - 3 Braintree Goal scored by Britt Assombalonga from close range to the bottom left corner of the goal. Lincoln City 2-3 Braintree Town.

85:25

Adam Bailey-Dennis fouled by Tyrone Thompson, the ref awards a free kick. Shot comes in from Brad Quinton from the free kick.

84:02

Britt Assombalonga produces a right-footed shot from just outside the box that goes wide left of the target.

82:32 Substitution

Substitution Nialle Rodney replaces Conal Platt.

82:23

Sean Marks produces a right-footed shot from just outside the penalty box that misses to the left of the goal.

81:43

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Adam Bailey-Dennis by Jefferson Louis. Nathan McDonald takes the free kick.

77:34

Foul by Jefferson Louis on Aswad Thomas, free kick awarded. Free kick taken by Nathan McDonald.

76:05

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Aswad Thomas by Richard Pacquette. Aswad Thomas takes the free kick.

73:40

Direct free kick taken by Adam Bailey-Dennis.

73:40 Substitution

Substitution Brad Quinton comes on in place of Nicky Symons.

73:40

Free kick awarded for a foul by Jefferson Louis on Adam Bailey-Dennis.

72:16

Direct free kick taken by Jean Francois Christophe.

72:16 Booking

Booking Britt Assombalonga is cautioned.

72:10

Josh Gowling fouled by Britt Assombalonga, the ref awards a free kick.

70:49

Louis Almond takes the direct free kick.

70:49 Booking

Booking Nicky Symons is shown a yellow card for unsporting behaviour.

70:44

Nicky Symons gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Louis Almond.

70:04

Unfair challenge on Conal Platt by Jai Reason results in a free kick. Peter Bore takes the direct free kick.

69:28

Inswinging corner taken by Conal Platt from the right by-line.

66:45

Direct free kick taken by Brendan Kiernan.

66:45 Substitution

Substitution (Lincoln City) makes a substitution, with Louis Almond coming on for Nicky Nicolau.

66:45

The assistant referee signals for offside against Richard Pacquette.

66:22

Effort from inside the area by Sean Marks misses to the left of the goal.

62:00

Unfair challenge on Jefferson Louis by Adam Bailey-Dennis results in a free kick. Direct free kick taken by John Nutter.

61:34

Effort from inside the area by Jai Reason misses to the right of the goal.

60:23

Kenny Davis produces a right-footed shot from the edge of the box and misses to the left of the target.

57:56

Dean Wells is penalised for a handball. Joe Anyon restarts play with the free kick.

56:20

Free kick awarded for a foul by Jean Francois Christophe on Britt Assombalonga. Free kick crossed by Jai Reason.

55:13 Goal scored

Goal - Tyrone Thompson - Lincoln 2 - 2 Braintree Tyrone Thompson scores from 35 yards to to the bottom right corner of the goal. Lincoln City 2-2 Braintree Town.

53:56 Goal scored

Goal - Jai Reason - Lincoln 1 - 2 Braintree Jai Reason finds the back of the net with a goal from just outside the box low into the middle of the goal. Lincoln City 1-2 Braintree Town.

53:03

Corner taken right-footed by Jai Reason,

52:31

Unfair challenge on Britt Assombalonga by Josh Gowling results in a free kick. Free kick crossed by Jai Reason, clearance by Peter Bore.

48:53

Corner taken by Nicky Nicolau, Jefferson Louis has a headed effort at goal from close in which goes wide left of the target.

45:01

The second half begins.

45:00 +2:10 Half time

Half Time The referee blows for half time.

42:17

Free kick awarded for a foul by Jefferson Louis on Dean Wells. Nathan McDonald takes the free kick.

42:00

Unfair challenge on Josh Gowling by Sean Marks results in a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Joe Anyon.

38:35

Inswinging corner taken from the left by-line by Conal Platt.

34:57

Unfair challenge on Sean Marks by Karlton Watson results in a free kick. Free kick taken by Dean Wells.

32:15

Inswinging corner taken by Jai Reason, Josh Gowling makes a clearance.

30:52

Free kick taken by Karlton Watson.

30:52 Booking

Booking The referee shows Adam Bailey-Dennis a yellow card for unsporting behaviour.

30:10

Adam Bailey-Dennis gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Conal Platt.

29:30

Conal Platt takes a inswinging corner from the right by-line to the near post.

29:12

Jean Francois Christophe takes a shot. Aswad Thomas gets a block in.

27:47

Jefferson Louis challenges Matthew Paine unfairly and gives away a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Nathan McDonald.

27:08

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Sean Marks by Peter Bore. Direct free kick taken by Aswad Thomas.

25:54

Inswinging corner taken by Karlton Watson from the right by-line.

25:32

Richard Pacquette takes a shot. Nathan McDonald makes a save.

24:43

Jean Francois Christophe takes a shot. Save made by Nathan McDonald.

23:27

Effort on goal by Jai Reason from deep inside the penalty area misses to the right of the goal.

22:22

Corner taken by Jefferson Louis from the right by-line.

22:06

Inswinging corner taken by Conal Platt, clearance by Matthew Paine.

20:59

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Aswad Thomas by Nicky Nicolau. Free kick crossed right-footed by Aswad Thomas, clearance by Josh Gowling.

17:35

Inswinging corner taken right-footed by Conal Platt, Jean Francois Christophe takes a shot. Save by Nathan McDonald.

17:05

The referee blows for offside against Britt Assombalonga. Free kick taken by Joe Anyon.

14:14

Britt Assombalonga produces a right-footed shot from the edge of the area and misses to the left of the goal.

11:51

Adam Bailey-Dennis concedes a free kick for a foul on Conal Platt. The free kick is swung in right-footed by Conal Platt, free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Nathan McDonald by Josh Gowling. Nathan McDonald takes the free kick.

9:54

Jai Reason gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Jean Francois Christophe. The ball is swung over by Nicky Nicolau, Headed effort from inside the area by John Nutter misses to the left of the goal.

8:55

Kenny Davis concedes a free kick for a foul on Nicky Nicolau. Conal Platt takes the direct free kick, Jefferson Louis has an effort at goal from deep inside the area missing to the right of the target.

8:55

Kenny Davis gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Nicky Nicolau. Free kick taken by Nicky Nicolau.

6:32

Jean Francois Christophe takes a shot. Save by Nathan McDonald.

5:04

Unfair challenge on Matthew Paine by Nicky Nicolau results in a free kick. Free kick taken by Aswad Thomas.

4:27

Foul by Jai Reason on Josh Gowling, free kick awarded. Direct free kick taken by Joe Anyon.

3:04 Goal scored

Goal - Jai Reason - Lincoln 1 - 1 Braintree A goal is scored by Jai Reason from deep inside the penalty box to the bottom left corner of the goal. Lincoln City 1-1 Braintree Town.

1:52

Britt Assombalonga takes a shot. Joe Anyon makes a save.

0:19

Assist by Joe Anyon.

0:19 Goal scored

Goal - Jefferson Louis - Lincoln 1 - 0 Braintree Jefferson Louis finds the net with a headed goal from inside the penalty box. Lincoln City 1-0 Braintree Town.

0:00

The match has kicked off.

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