BRAINTREE TOWN 2 KIDDERMINSTER HARRIERS 0

Vanarama Conference Premier

A 2-0 scoreline appears to be a favourite for Braintree Town at the moment.

With Tuesday’s defeat at Welling the only result spoiling the run, their win against Kidderminster Harriers was the Iron’s fourth 2-0 win in their last five Vanarama Conference Premier games.

The highlight was a sublime opening goal by James Mulley and Kenny Davis got the second just after half-time, but the game wasn’t without its trials.

This one was probably the toughest of the four 2-0 wins as they rode their luck at times – especially in the latter part of the game as Harriers hit the woodwork a couple of times.

And the Iron ended the game with ten men after Davis was dismissed for two bookable offences, but it was another three valuable points nonetheless.

Braintree made one change from the side that was beaten 2-1 at Welling United in midweek with Ryan Peters returning from a three-game absence.

The right-back came back in after a calf injury in place of Remy Clerima, who had picked up a hamstring problem at Welling, but apart from that, it was an unchanged Iron side.

It was a cagey start by both sides and they were fencing for the first 15 minutes, but when the opening goal came, it was spectacular.

With markers in close attendance Mulley clipped the ball with the outside of his boot from about 25 yards and it drifted into the top corner past the flailing dive of Harriers keeper Danny Lewis.

It was certainly one for the Mulley scrapbook and gave the hosts a platform to build from.

Just as they had against Bristol Rovers seven days before, they were composed in possession, getting the ball down on the floor and playing it out confidently from the back.

They carried a greater goal threat than the visitors and should really have doubled their lead just before the half-hour mark.

A great cross from the left by Sam Habergham fell neatly on to the head of Jordan Cox but could only head high over the bar from six yards out.

They should have been comfortable, but Braintree began to get pushed deeper and deeper as Kidderminster tried to look for a way back into the game.

The hosts almost paid the price when a shot from outside the box clattered off the post, before the ball was cleared and then Nick Hamann had to make a great save when Jack Byrne unleashed a thunderous shot from close range.

It stayed 1-0 at the break, though, and Braintree knew they would need a strong start after the break to reassert their control.

That’s exactly what they got and it was largely thanks to the tenacity of Chez Isaac, who chased down Byrne in a dangerous position, robbed him of the ball and then won a corner.

And it was from that corner - taken by Dan Sparkes - that Davis stooped low to head in for Braintree’s second goal and his fifth of the campaign.

It gave the Iron the comfort zone they wanted, but their forward momentum was hampered when Cox had to come off with what looked like a nasty knee injury.

Michael Bakare came on, but the visitors were suddenly seeing more of the ball and Ryan Peters had to make a goal-line clearance and Chey Dunkley then headed narrowly over when it looked like he would score.

Braintree's job wasn’t helped when they were reduced to ten men for the last 15 minutes as Davis was shown a red card for a second bookable offence.

It meant they ended the game on the back foot and the woodwork was struck twice in the last ten minutes when Hamann palmed a free-kick on to the post and substitute Ahmed Obeng struck the upright late on, but Braintree held on to their advantage.