BRAINTREE Town are quickly becoming the Vanarama National League draw specialists, writes DAVID WARD.

The Iron's 0-0 draw at home to Woking was their fourth successive stalemate this season, in what was not a particular entertaining game at the Rare Breed Meat Stadium.

The one consolation for Iron fans in the 1,129 crowd is that they didn't lose, they picked up another point and kept a clean sheet.

But there's still plenty of frustration on the terraces over a lack of goals - the side has hit the net three times in their first seven games so far at this level - and manager Angelo Harrop is fully aware of the situation.

(Image: JON WEAVER)

Harrop said: "I know it's frustrating for the fans because in this game and the two previous matches we have played so much better and certainly created so many opportunities to score but just seem to miss out in the final phase with the final ball in the danger area.

"It's certainly not for the want of trying and we'll keep working hard to rectify that and I know once we can find the net we'll really get going.

"I take many positives from this game because I felt we were far the better side as the game went on, worked ourselves into some great openings but just couldn't get it across the line.

"They are a well established side at this level and I think we more than matched them in every department and we knew that stepping up to this higher level would be tough and take some adjusting.

"We're also a comparatively young side and with so many new players it's taking time to get everyone going as a co-ordinated working unit.

(Image: JON WEAVER)

"I'm really pleased with their efforts as a team today and it was a fantastic performance and yes we know what's missing and we're trying to get a couple of new players in to help us move forward more quickly."

Braintree faced a player shortage at Thursday's training session, with the likelihood of having only one sub available for this game.

Full-back Ryan Clampin out injured in the previous game and two players - Reggie Lambe and Louie Annesley - away on international duties and Matt Robinson not allowed to play against his former club.

With Annesley away - he should be back for Tuesday's trip to York City - it meant a central defence partnership of Joe Grimwood and Jamal Fyfield and they were both outstanding in this game while again goalkeeper Lucas Covolan gave another solid performance and in reality was rarely troubled by the visitors' strikers.

(Image: JON WEAVER)

Iron certainly had their chances to score - more than the visitors - throughout the game and they hit the woodwork and saw several goal efforts scrambled away.

In addition, five different Iron players wasted golden opportunities to score in the second half when it need just one to hit the net.

Scoring goals at any level is all about winning games and giving players confidence and on the evidence of their past couple of games, the Iron are on the right track and hopefully they break their goal drought at York on Tuesday.

After that, Braintree face the short journey to play Barnet on Saturday, kick-off 3pm.