Braintree held on for a 2-2 draw after the second-half sending-off of Chay Cooper in their Vanarama National League clash with Gateshead on Saturday.

The Iron twice had a lead cancelled out in a dramatic start at the RMBC Stadium which saw Gateshead hit a post and all four goals scored in the opening 19 minutes.

Jermaine Francis turned in a Cooper cross to put the hosts ahead after four minutes, soon after Will McGowan had struck the woodwork, and Gibraltar international Louie Annesley restored the advantage after an Owen Oseni equaliser.

The visitors again levelled quickly through Joe Grayson and Oseni later hit a post, but Gateshead were unable to find a winner after Cooper was dismissed for a second bookable offence on the hour.