Aldershot Town assistant manager Richard Dryden admitted to having mixed emotions after his side drew 2-2 at home to Braintree Town in the National League.

Kyrell Lisbie fired Braintree into a third-minute lead, but the Shots turned the game around thanks to goals from James Henry and Josh Barrett before John Akinde’s 40th-minute equaliser made it 2-2 at the end of a breathless first half.

Dryden felt his side created enough chances to win the game, and was disappointed they couldn’t pick up all three points.

“It was another rollercoaster,” said Dryden.

“We started the first couple of minutes pretty well and then two-and-a-half minutes into the game we're 1-0 down.

“We got back on the bike and the rollercoaster started by equalising and going 2-1 up.

“We highlighted Braintree’s attacking threats. We were left a little bit short for their first goal but the recovery was pretty good.”

The second half was a much tighter affair than the first half, which had been incredibly open, and Dryden felt his side had better control of the game after the break.

“We controlled the game a lot more in the second half than we did in the first half, which was a little bit backwards and forwards,” said Dryden.

“We limited Braintree in the second half – their main chances were from set plays.

“We got control in the second half. We were a bit more measured around the box and created enough chances to win the game.

“We hit the post and there were a couple of good saves off Josh Barrett. The worry would be if we stop creating chances, but we're creating more than enough.

“We work hard as a group – the whole squad and the staff look at strengths and weaknesses.

“We knew Braintree’s strengths but stopping them is a different thing.

“We knew what they're about and we set up as well as we could.

“They've got pace in wide areas, so we tried to deal with it.

“Their movement was good and they got a couple of free headers.”

Will Armitage made his debut for the Shots after joining on loan from Southampton, and Dryden was pleased with how the young defender acquitted himself on his first Aldershot start.

“You're not going to get a tougher game than marking John Akinde,” said Dryden.

“He's tried and tested and he is hard to mark.

“Fair play to Will – he's come in and done a good job.

“Hopefully he'll progress as a player and help us.”

Aldershot manager Tommy Widdrington made an appearance in the home dugout as he continues his recovery after suffering two strokes, and Dryden admitted it was a big boost to have the Shots boss back.

“The whole club's missed him so it's good to see him back,” said Dryden.

The draw against Braintree was the Shots’ fourth in a row in the league following draws against Forest Green Rovers, Woking and Sutton United, and Dryden said he felt his side could have picked up more points from those games.

“Potentially we could have won most of those games,” said Dryden.

“That's a bit disappointing but we're creating enough to win games.

“We've just got to nail some of those chances.

“We look great going forward. If we've got to score three sometimes we'll score three – that's our philosophy.”