THE Iron again proved masters of being able to beat relegated Football League clubs when they put in another excellent all round display on Saturday to deservedly beat Bristol Rovers 2-0 in front of their biggest gate - 1,621 - of the season at Cressing Road on Saturday.
Kenny Davis scored from the penalty spot and Dan Sparkes added the second as the Iron won their third match in a row.
The penalty came after a left wing cross by Sam Habergham was collected safely in the hand of Rovers keeper Steve Mildenhall, but referee Daniel Cook declared that Iron striker Jordan Cox had been fouled by defender Tom Parkes as the ball came in.
His decision led to an unsightly melee as the Rovers players, along with their 565 fans in the crowd, let their feelings be known what they thought of the decision.
Up until then it had been an open game with attacks at both ends with the Irons' Sparkes sending a curling free-kick over the visitors' bar in the tenth minute.
Four minutes later what turned out to be crucial moment in the game came when Iron keeper Nick Hamann made a spectacular save to deny Adam Cunnington with a header.
An early goal then for Rovers may have given them the initial upper hand but credit to the Iron players they kept a high pace in their play, passing the ball through midfield rather than relying on long, high ball up to the front strikers as they had done in a couple of their opening games.
Rovers did get the ball in the Iron net on 35 minutes but Parkes had netted from an off-side position.
The second half though belonged to the Iron as they took control of the game not allowing the visitors to get one shot in on goal to cause Hamann any problems.
On 50 minutes the Iron almost added a second when in a sweeping move up field, Davis moved the ball into Cox, who passed it wide to Sparkes and from his early cross, Simeon Akinola's header was flicked just wide.
With all their attacking pressure the Iron need that second goal to give them breathing space and they did in spectacular fashion on 59 minutes.
Excellent link-up play between Cox and man-of-the-match Akinola opened the Rovers defence down the left side before Akinola left the covering defender for dead with some skilful footwork, crossed the ball to the edge of the box where the unmarked Sparkes was waiting to slide the ball into the net, giving Rovers' keeper Steve Mildenhall no chance.
This goal destroyed any playing pattern from the visitors and from then on the Iron dominated the game and should have scored at least two more goals.
Long before the final whistle many of the visiting supporters were heading for the exit while this win pushes the Iron up into tenth place.
Braintree Town: Nick Hamman, Mitch Brundle, Sam Habergham, Remy Clerima, Alan Massey, James Mulley, Kenny Davis, Dan Sparkes (Dan Walker 73), Chez Isaac, Simeon Akinola (Michael Bakare 90), Jordan Cox (Steve Smith 85).