Ebbsfleet and Braintree both scored first-half penalties as the mid-table sides played out a score draw.

Home goalkeeper Lance Cronin produced a smart save to divert Ben Wright's drive over the crossbar early on.

The hosts went ahead when Matthew Paine felled Calum Willock in the penalty area and he drilled home the resulting spot-kick.

The lead was short-lived as Ben Wright converted from 12 yards after Ross Smith fouled Sean Marks.

VIEWS FROM THE DRESSING ROOM.

Ebbsfleet manager Liam Daish told BBC Radio Kent:

"Safety is what we set out to achieve, so with four games to go and with a good margin, I'm very pleased.

"Teams like us, we've punched above our weight but this has been the most difficult season, people are going that extra yard to be competitive and get out of this league.

"It was tough, Braintree beat Luton on Saturday and it was going to be difficult. I thought we should have got the three points, theirs wasn't a penalty.

"Braintree know how to play it and use situations for their benefit, we're a bit naive for that."

Braintree Town manager Alan Devonshire told BBC Essex:

"I think first half we were the better side, we had a few chances. I didn't think their's was a penalty, maybe ours wasn't.

"I thought second half was very scrappy, I think we got a bit tired from Saturday.

"We battled through, I've had both my centre-backs out, so we had to re-shuffle a little bit."

"We take a point and we move on."

Lineup, Bookings (3) & Substitutions (4)

Ebbsfleet United

  • 30 Cronin
  • 06 Lorraine
  • 16 Smith
  • 02 Stone
  • 07 West Booked
  • 08 Marwa
  • 11 Phipp (Shakes - 71' )
  • 14 Howe (Herd - 56' )
  • 31 Bellamy
  • 09 Willock (Pinney - 80' )
  • 15 Marum

Substitutes

  • 12 McNeil
  • 03 Herd
  • 24 Barrett
  • 10 Shakes
  • 26 Pinney

Braintree Town

  • 01 McDonald
  • 03 Thomas Booked
  • 05 Paine
  • 16 O'Connor
  • 06 Reason (Quinton - 84' )
  • 07 Symons Booked
  • 08 Davis
  • 18 Gibson
  • 02 Peters
  • 09 Marks
  • 10 Wright

Substitutes

  • 22 Jones
  • 24 Wells
  • 15 Quinton
  • 25 Pooley
  • 36 Appoak-Kupi
Ref: Ford
Att: 938

Match Stats

Shots

11 6

On target

4 3

Corners

5 3

Fouls

17 12

Live Text Commentary

90:00 +3:04 Full time

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

90:00 +1:12

Nathaniel Pinney fouled by Matthew Paine, the ref awards a free kick. Shot comes in from Liam Enver-Marum from the free kick, save by Nathan McDonald. Outswinging corner taken right-footed by Michael West from the right by-line to the near post.

90:00 +0:50

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Johnny Herd by Ben Wright. Johnny Herd restarts play with the free kick.

86:50

Outswinging corner taken by Liam Enver-Marum from the right by-line played to the near post, Brad Quinton makes a clearance.

85:41

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Kenny Davis by Liam Bellamy. Free kick taken by Brad Quinton.

85:08

Unfair challenge on Paul Lorraine by Ben Wright results in a free kick. Free kick taken by Liam Bellamy.

83:31 Substitution

Substitution Jai Reason leaves the field to be replaced by Brad Quinton.

81:14

Kenny Davis fouled by Michael West, the ref awards a free kick. Free kick taken by Jai Reason.

78:43

Nathan McDonald takes the free kick.

78:43 Substitution

Substitution Nathaniel Pinney on for Calum Willock.

78:43

Liam Enver-Marum gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Ryan Peters.

71:24

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Ricky Shakes by Jai Reason. Liam Enver-Marum restarts play with the free kick.

70:16

Direct free kick taken by Nathan McDonald.

70:16 Substitution

Substitution Ricky Shakes replaces Tom Phipp.

70:16

Liam Bellamy concedes a free kick for a foul on Kenny Davis.

64:17

Shot by Liam Bellamy. Matthew Paine gets a block in. Unfair challenge on Liam Enver-Marum by Kenny Davis results in a free kick. Liam Enver-Marum produces a shot on goal direct from the free kick, Jai Reason gets a block in.

61:40

Billy Gibson has an effort at goal from just inside the box that misses to the left of the target.

61:16

The assistant referee signals for offside against Calum Willock. Free kick taken by Nathan McDonald.

60:10

Liam Enver-Marum is ruled offside. Nathan McDonald restarts play with the free kick.

58:03

Direct free kick taken by Ryan Peters.

58:03 Booking

Booking Michael West is cautioned by the ref for unsporting behaviour.

57:52

Free kick awarded for a foul by Michael West on Pat O'Connor.

55:25 Substitution

Substitution Joe Howe goes off and Johnny Herd comes on.

55:25

Kenny Davis has an effort at goal from just outside the area which goes wide of the left-hand post.

50:47

Liam Enver-Marum decides to take a short corner.

48:39

Direct free kick taken by Michael West.

48:39 Booking

Booking Aswad Thomas goes into the book.

48:23

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Tom Phipp by Aswad Thomas.

47:01

Craig Stone gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Jai Reason. Jai Reason restarts play with the free kick.

45:46

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Jai Reason by Ram Marwa. Direct free kick taken by Nicky Symons.

45:01

The referee blows his whistle to start the second half.

45:00 +1:57 Half time

Half Time The players leave the pitch at half time.

45:00 +0:50

Aswad Thomas produces a volleyed left-footed shot from deep inside the penalty area which goes wide of the right-hand post.

44:08

Ram Marwa challenges Billy Gibson unfairly and gives away a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Matthew Paine.

40:08

Free kick crossed right-footed by Michael West. Shot by Ram Marwa from 20 yards. Nathan McDonald makes a save.

40:08 Booking

Booking Caution for Nicky Symons.

39:46

Foul by Nicky Symons on Craig Stone, free kick awarded.

39:27

Foul by Calum Willock on Aswad Thomas, free kick awarded. Direct free kick taken by Jai Reason.

38:36

Liam Enver-Marum takes a shot from just outside the penalty area clears the crossbar.

35:41

Michael West produces a right-footed shot from inside the area that clears the bar.

33:38

Corner from the right by-line taken by Ben Wright, Ram Marwa makes a clearance.

33:14 Goal scored

Goal - Ben Wright - Ebbsfleet 1 - 1 Braintree Ben Wright scores a placed penalty. Ebbsfleet United 1-1 Braintree Town.

31:49

Foul by Ross Smith on Sean Marks, Penalty awarded.

30:58

Craig Stone challenges Aswad Thomas unfairly and gives away a free kick. Ben Wright crosses the ball in from the free kick, clearance made by Ross Smith.

30:10

Unfair challenge on Liam Bellamy by Kenny Davis results in a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Ross Smith.

29:14 Goal scored

Goal - Calum Willock - Ebbsfleet 1 - 0 Braintree Penalty taken right-footed by Calum Willock and scored. Ebbsfleet United 1-0 Braintree Town.

28:22

Unfair challenge on Calum Willock by Matthew Paine results in a Penalty.

26:39

Foul by Liam Enver-Marum on Matthew Paine, free kick awarded. Matthew Paine restarts play with the free kick.

25:51

Jai Reason fouled by Tom Phipp, the ref awards a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Nathan McDonald.

24:32

Effort from deep inside the area by Calum Willock clears the bar.

23:22

Liam Bellamy has an effort at goal from outside the area which goes wide right of the goal.

22:55

Foul by Ryan Peters on Liam Enver-Marum, free kick awarded. Ram Marwa takes the free kick.

22:02

Ben Wright takes the chance to get an effort at goal. Save made by Lance Cronin. Short corner worked by Ben Wright.

21:25

Ben Wright is flagged offside by the assistant referee. Lance Cronin takes the indirect free kick.

20:12

Effort from deep inside the area by Michael West misses to the right of the goal.

17:26

Sean Marks gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Paul Lorraine. Lance Cronin takes the direct free kick.

14:56

Foul by Tom Phipp on Sean Marks, free kick awarded. Billy Gibson has an effort direct from the free kick, blocked by Michael West. Ben Wright takes the inswinging corner, Matthew Paine takes a shot. Save made by Lance Cronin.

13:21

Unfair challenge on Sean Marks by Ross Smith results in a free kick. Ben Wright crosses the ball in from the free kick, Tom Phipp manages to make a clearance.

11:49

Outswinging corner taken right-footed by Michael West from the right by-line to the near post, clearance made by Nicky Symons.

11:29

Foul by Matthew Paine on Calum Willock, free kick awarded. Ram Marwa restarts play with the free kick.

9:44

Corner taken by Michael West from the right by-line, Ross Smith challenges Aswad Thomas unfairly and gives away a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Nathan McDonald.

7:56

Calum Willock gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Ryan Peters. Free kick taken by Matthew Paine.

6:12

The official flags Ben Wright offside. Indirect free kick taken by Craig Stone.

5:18

Calum Willock takes a shot. Ryan Peters gets a block in.

4:38

Liam Enver-Marum has an effort at goal from 20 yards. Blocked by Ryan Peters.

0:18

Sean Marks is penalised for a handball. Direct free kick taken by Ross Smith.

0:00

The match has kicked off.

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