Staines were unlucky not to have taken all three points from title-chasing Braintree at a chilly Wheatsheaf Park.

Steve Cordery’s men had a perfect start, as Richard Butler received from Warren Harris and beat the keeper with an angled shot after just 55 seconds.

But Braintree replied in under 2½ minutes, ex Swan Jamie Guy converting a penalty after the ball had bounced up against André Scarlett’s outstretched arm.

Staines hit back, regaining the lead on 31 minutes with a close-range Butler goal, following approach work by Marc Charles-Smith and Jacob Mingle.

But again Braintree almost immediately won a penalty, following a collision in the box, and with Guy off injured, Sean Marks converted.

Louis Wells made smart saves from Marks and Dave Bryant either side of half time to keep Staines on terms, and then stunned The Iron with two goals in four minutes.

On 64, a Butler effort was scrambled off the line but Danny Gordon followed up to score from close range.

Harris had a powerful free kick blocked by the wall after Butler had been upended just outside the box, but when Scarlett’s corner was headed against the bar by Richard Orlu, Mingle followed up to make it 4-2.

But Braintree were given a lifeline when a ball from the left was palmed into his own net by Swans’ keeper Wells on 74 minutes.

Two minutes later, Marks scrambled in an equaliser to make it 4-4.

Butler netted again for Staines in stoppage time, but was flagged offside.