There are two columns in the Vanarama National League table that are holding particular interest for Braintree Town defender Mark Phillips.

The 34-year-old former Southend United centre-half has played an integral part in the Iron boasting the league’s meanest defensive record since joining last summer.

Braintree don’t have another game until their trip to Southport on February 13, but they headed into their mini-break on the back of three home wins in quick succession – against Wrexham, Chester and Welling – when they have conceded not a single goal.

In fact they haven’t conceded in the last 640 minutes of league football on home turf and those last few games have taken the team’s collective tally of clean sheets to an impressive 15 in all competitions so far this season.

Phillips said: “If you keep a clean sheet then you have a chance of winning the game so it’s something that I take pride in, not just as an individual but collectively because it’s something you look for as a defensive unit.

“To keep that many clean sheets is a proud stat.

“I won’t lie – I do keep an eye on the goals against column in the league table as well as the points.

“We want to get promotion from this league so our overall position is important but goals against is also something that’s important to me.”

However, it was at the other end of the pitch that Phillips, who made more than 100 appearances for Southend during four seasons with the Shrimpers, made a notable contribution last weekend.

He scored the opener in Braintree’s 2-0 win against Chester FC and the former Millwall trainee said it was a relief to get his Braintree goal tally finally under way.

He added: “It was great because more than anything, I’m used to scoring a few each season and it was something that had eluded me. So it was really nice to get on the scoresheet and I’ll be looking for more during the rest of the season now.”

Phillips admits that playing at a part-time club has taken some getting used to after a career in the Football League, but he is enjoying being with the Iron.

It has been a testing campaign, with a number of postponed fixtures during December and January leading to lean spells of action for the Iron squad, but now they are back up to speed, Phillips feels they should be looking up the table.

He said: “It’s been a bit of a different lifestyle at a different sort of club from the one that I’ve been used to, but it’s a great group of players, great management and we’re all in it together.

“All I can say is that I’m enjoying myself.

“The enforced break was a disappointment for us because we’d been doing so well and it took us a couple of games to get the sharpness back. But I could sense that we were back to looking strong and resolute against Wrexham and we’ve kicked on from there.

“It feels like we’re back to our old ways and are firing on all cylinders.

“The confidence is in the group and you can see everyone is back on track.

“You can’t run away and get above your station, but I’m quietly confident and I’m sure some of the other boys are as well.

“When you look around the dressing room and see the ability that we have in there and look at our gaffer and Nicky’s tactics, then I’m confident that we are capable of great things.”