Andy Peaks’ Lambs returned to league action after their midweek Birmingham Senior Cup heroics, welcoming Steve Pitt’s Iron to the Compare The Build Community Stadium.
Tamworth started the day in 10th place four points off the play off places with a final push called for by the gaffer in the build up to the game with Braintree in 16th, six points behind them, and relatively comfortably sat eight points clear of the relegation zone.
Peaks handed a first placing on the bench for Charlie Edge, captain of the Lambs U23 side that won their league, earning the Academy player his first team forms.
With footballing legend and Director of Football at Peterborough United, Barry Fry watching from the directors area, the visitors got the game underway with Tamworth attacking the Meadow Street end, and Enoru picked the ball up early doors and got past Pinnington on the left of the box but rifled his low shot into the side netting.
A defensive clearance gave Tonks a throw from the left on 6 but it made its way to keeper Gray -and from the ensuing play a cross from the Lisbie on left was headed home at the far post by Francis despite the best efforts of Cockerill-Mollett to get his head to it first. (0-1, 7 mins)
Shouts for a penalty against Digie when Lisbie went down in the area on 11 were not considered by referee Burgin, and she had to speak to Akinde and Creaney before a Tonks throw from the right could be launched but a foul in the box prevented any goalmouth action.
At the Castle End, on 15 Clampin got a teasing cross to the near post from the left, which was dealt with, and when Ponticelli picked up the ball out of midfield his perfect lob over the visitors defence was equally as perfectly met by Enoru who took a touch and fired the equaliser under Gray (1-1, 17 mins)
And the provider got his rewards three minutes later when Enoru turned provider himself with a low ball from the left of the box into the path of the former Coventry City man to blast home from close range (2-1, 20 mins)
Braintree responded with a purposeful attacking move which ended with a header from Cooper against post and the rebound was knocked goalward by Francis but very well saved by Singh at close range.
However, Singh had to face a penalty on 25 when Lisbie was brought down and Akinde calmly slotted the equaliser from penalty spot (2-2, 25 mins)
Enoru dug the ball out of the box for Creaney to try his luck from the left but it curled away from the far post and Braintree countered again forcing a corner on the left, it was cleared and captain Langston launched the resulting throw from the right into the box where Akinde got a toe to it and forced Singh into a double save.
McGlinchey struck from distance on 30 but also wide of the mark, and play switched again with another Iron corner. Lisbie slipped when well placed and his scuffed shot was easy for Singh and Clampin drove a low ball into the box on 33 which Hollis dealt with as Tamworth were forced to work hard at the back.
A Tonks throw was put behind for The Lambs first corner on 36 and Enoru made a mazy run but his ball to Ponticelli was cut out by Pinnington and a goalkick resulted.
A deft back heel by Annesley was instinctively stopped low a yard out by Singh, and when Akinde blocked the keepers clearance the Braintree player escaped with a talking to.
Once again, Enoru found space in the box in added time but curled his shot high and wide of the mark but when in the next move, when he pulled the ball across the box for McGlinchey to head into the box the number 19 received his own ball back and rifled it low inside the near post (3-2, 45+2 mins)
Cockerill-Mollett went down after going toe to toe with Akinde and instantly indicated he couldn’t continue, needing treatment on the pitch before Fairlamb could replace him and from the resulting corner, Akinde powered a header over the target.

HT: 3-2

The second half was necessarily delayed until 4.40pm following a medical emergency with a supporter in the main stand.
Thankfully, after the invaluable intervention of club medical staff and St John's Ambulance they were able to leave to get treatment after medics had arrived at the ground.
So, Tamworth got the game back underway and a Tonks throw from the left found Creaney but his backward header went away from goal and from a Tonks freekick on 47 Creaney glanced another free header wide of the mark.
Curley was booked for a clumsy challenge on Lisbie in the left channel on 52 and Cooper lined up the deadball which he curled over the wall and wide of the far post, as Singh launched at it but he didn’t need to touch it out of play.
Langston was then booked for a shirt pull and Sundire took the freekick from the left of the D, straight into the keepers arms.
From a Hollis strike the spinning deflection took it behind for a corner on the right on 62 and Creaney was booked for handball when the flagkick came into the box.
Cooper was given another freekick in a similar position on 64 and Singh punched it away for a corner by the Cross Street entrance which Akinde was unable to deal with but Cooper forced another corner off Tonks and Digie cleared the Lambs lines this time.
Then, Enoru’s ball in from the left for Creaney was nipped away from the striker and out to Sundire who took a touch into the box and appeared to go down under a challenge from Robinson but there was no penalty given, despite calls from the pitch and terraces.
Fletcher, back from loan at Rushall, replaced Ponticelli on 75 and on 79 Creaney had a well taken headed goal direct from a corner ruled out for a foul in the box.
From a Hollis flick-on on 84 Enoru blazed his volley on the angle high over the target and there was a stoppage on 87 when the winger needed treatment on the field and was unable to continue.
Then, a switch between Creaney and Finn saw the latter pull the ball across the face of goal with Gray out of position but it was just too long for Sundire to reach.
Five minutes added time was shown at the end of the game and The Lambs continued to work hard to prevent Braintree getting a hold of the ball in the final third, and when Creaney ran over the halfway line he was called offside on 94.
Clampin managed to get a half volley on target in the next move but was denied by Crompton’s defensive header and The Lambs broke upfield with Williams taking the ball down the left and his low cross to Creaney was thumped home to settle the win. (4-2, 90+5 mins)

Tamworth:
Singh (c.), Curley, Digie, Hollis (c.), Cockerill-Mollett (Fairlamb 45+6), Sundire, Tonks, Ponticelli (Fletcher 75), McGlinchey (Finn 83), Enoru (Williams 88), Creaney
Subs: Crompton, Waldron, Edge
YC: Curley 52, Creaney 62
RC: (none)

Braintree Town:
Gray, Clampin, Langston (c.), Annesley, Marshal-Miranda (Judge 75), Cooper (Blackwell 71), Akinde, Lisbie, Robinson, Pinnington (Francis-Clarke 60), Francis
Subs (5 only): Neilsen, Fyfield
YC: Langston 58
RC: (none)

Referee: Ms. Melissa Burgin
Assistants: Mr. Kevin Morris, Mr. Stuart Butler
4th Official: Mr. Harry Warner

Attendance: 1007

Compare the Build Man of the Match chosen by match sponsors Graphic Wizard and The Car Lot: Beck-Ray Enoru