The Essex outfit travel to Court Place Farm on Saturday (3:00pm) with City looking to cut the gap to fourth placed Dartford.

A point would mathematically secure the Hoops’ VNLS play-off place with three matches to play.

However, with the National League’s Play-off format, City will have to aim for a minimum of fourth of fifth place to guarantee a home tie in the end of season knockout competition.

The Hoops had a bittersweet Easter weekend, with a 1-0 win over rivals Hungerford Town on Good Friday, but defeat away at Chippenham Town three days later by the same scoreline delayed the play-off admission.

City’s head coach said: “Saturday is a great opportunity to turn things around and get back to winning ways. Hopefully, we’ll have a big crowd with us to do that and we’re all looking forward to it.

“It’ll be a tough one. Braintree won’t be an easy ride but it’s a really important game for us. As long as we have the right mentality going into it, I think we’ll be fine.

“With the expectations the club has, I think we’ve smashed it this season, to be in the position we’re in now.

“There’s no weight on our shoulders, no stress or no worries because the club have never really been in this position before, so it’s important that we enjoy it.”

Braintree also need a solitary point to secure their place in step 2 for another season, meaning Saturday could be a big day for both clubs.

The two teams faced off with each other on the opening day of the season, when a late Dan Matsuzaka header rescued a point for City.

The game was a closely fought affair, with the Iron reduced to ten-men after Femi Akinwande’s red card for an elbow on Charlie Rowan and Jenkins is expecting another tough clash.

He said: “They’ve added some new players to the squad since we last played them and it’s strengthened them.

“Back on the opening day it was a really tough game and the draw was probably a fair result but it was a very difficult day.



“We’re definitely ready for a real battle.”