Braintree Town had the unusual experience of not scoring as their Vanarama Conference Premier trip to Eastleigh ended in a 1-0 defeat.

Manager Alan Devonshire admitted that his team lacked a cutting edge in the final third of the pitch as they lost only their second game in their last seven outings and slipped to 11th in the table.

It was the first game since the opening day of the season that the Iron had failed to find the target and Stuart Fleetwood’s goal in the 35th minute was enough to win it for the hosts.

Devonshire said: “There was one bit of quality in the game with the cross that their player headed in.

“We played well enough up to the edge of the box but probably didn’t create as much as we should have done.

“The cutting edge was missing but I can’t knock them because they are giving me everything whenever they go out there.

“As a manager I can’t ask any more than that.”