YORK City shared the spoils with Braintree, but manager Jackie McNamara would not be drawn on whether the final outcome represented a “positive result” afterwards.

That was the challenge McNamara’s players had to meet if their manager was to be persuaded against tendering his resignation, but the definition looked even more ambiguous at the final whistle, than it had done before the game.

During a promising first half, McNamara’s unprecedented, self-imposed ultimatum, which attracted widespread national attention, looked like an unlikely tactical masterstoke as the Minstermen took control in Essex against their fellow National League strugglers.

His players had the bit between their teeth and led after just six minutes following a fine finish by skipper Simon Heslop.

Danny Galbraith should have also doubled that advantage moments later and the visitors even survived a 12th-minute scare – one of the home side’s few bright first-half moments – when Kyle Letheren dived low to his right to push behind a Sim Akinola penalty.

Deep-seated troubles, though, reared their head after the interval as City, whose inability to put together a solid 90-minute performance has been the cause for frustration all season, surrendered superiority and failed to muster another goal attempt.

As the Minstermen came under increasing pressure, substitute Lee Barnard eventually secured a first point in five home games for the Iron when he converted a 90th-minute spot kick to deny the visitors a first away win in 30 matches.

Barnard’s goal also set a new club record with City having failed to keep a clean sheet on the road during that same period.

The performance of Letheren had merited that elusive shut-out too, but he guessed the wrong way when faced by the ex-Southend and Southampton striker.

Earlier, Richard Brodie and Shaun Rooney had combined to send Heslop haring through the right channel and the captain drilled a low 15-yard drive across goal into the bottom corner.

Brodie was causing the Braintree backline all sorts of problems during the opening exchanges and also went on to send Galbraith clear on goal three minutes later.

But the ex-Hibernian winger scuffed his shot and hit Will Puddy’s left-hand upright from ten yards.

Braintree’s first foray into City’s box, though, resulted in Heslop dangling out a leg that Akinola tumbled over.

Letheren was equal to the home forward’s spot kick, however, with City soon back on top.

More good play by Brodie saw Yan Klukowski break through the right channel, but Puddy was quick out of his goal to smother.

Promising teenage debutant Sam Fielding also sliced over from 25 yards, while Brodie was booked for diving despite seeming to be clipped in the box.

Clovis Kamdjo’s downward header from Fielding’s free kick was collected, meanwhile, by Puddy and Rooney sidefooted narrowly wide from the edge of the box.

The second period was a completely different story, though, with Michael Cheek’s early introduction for Jack Midson giving Hakan Hayrettin’s men more forward purpose.

Letheren was soon called into action to keep out Chez Isaac’s angled drive at his near post, before Kamdjo blocked Oli Muldoon’s follow-up effort.

An acrobatic six-yard overhead kick by Akinola also flashed wide, while Cheek shot past Letheren, only for fit-again, right-back Lanre Oyebanjo to charge back and clear off the line.

A double save by City’s overworked keeper then denied Cheek and Muldoon.

Cheek went on to head over at the far post from Sam Matthews’ left-wing cross before crashing to the deck in the away box, prompting referee David Rock to point to the spot for a second time.

Keeping his composure, Barnard found Letheren's inviting bottom-right corner, as McNamara’s men paid the utlimate penalty for a lacklustre second period.

City

STAR MAN Kyle Letheren: 8 – determined last line of defence as City struggled after break

Lanre Oyebanjo: 7 – tightened up his side of the pitch on first appearance this season

Jack Higgins: 7 – battled well and did nor overcomplicate with his defending

Clovis Kamdjo: 7 – much improved on Guiseley horror show after surprisingly named in defence again

Alex Whittle: 7 – plugged away in attempt to batten down the hatches

Simon Heslop: 7 – took his goal in clinical fashion and nurtured Fielding through game 

Sam Fielding: 7 – made some good interceptions and confident enough to assume set-piece duty

Shaun Rooney: 6 – looked a little lost in surprisingly advanced forward role

Yan Klukowski: 6 – drifted out of game as side came under second-half pressure

Danny Galbraith: 6 – might have given his team an unassailable lead, but lacked cutting edge

Richard Brodie: 7 – team lost focal point for their attacks with his second-half substitution

Substitutes: Daniel Nti 6 – patchy (for Brodie, 65), Matt Fry (for Oyebanjo, 88).

Subs not used: Luke Simpson, Franklyn Clarke, Matty Dixon.

Braintree

Will Puddy, Barney Williams, George Elokobi, Ian Gayle, Jerome Okimo, Harry Lee (Reece Hall-Johnson, 71), Oli Muldoon (Lee Barnard, 87), Chez Isaac, Jack Midson (Michael Cheek, 53), Sim Akinola, Sam Matthews.

Subs not used: Jon Ashton, Sam Corne.

Braintree star man: Cheek – gave team more purpose when introduced

Referee: David Rock rating: 6/10 – couple of major calls looked marginal

Booked: Brodie 23, Isaac 58, Letheren 90, Rooney 90+2.

Attendance: 728

Shots on target: Braintree 6, City 4

Shots off target: Braintree 4, City 3

Corners: Braintree 3, City 1

Fouls conceded: Braintree 10, City 15

Offside: Braintree 0, City 4