THE Iron made it four 2-0 wins out of their last five games on Saturday as they overcame a strong full-time Harriers side who were three times denied a goal by the woodwork and twice saw home keeper Nick Hamann pull off great saves to keep his side in the lead.
The Iron also had to survive a tricky final 15 minutes with only 10 men when skipper Kenny Davis was sent off for a second yellow card which left manager Alan Devonshire fuming.
"Kenny committed two fairly innocuous fouls in the game and was given two yellow cards," he declared. "Two of their players - Kyle Storer and Marvin Johnson - had already been booked once and they then both commit appalling, vicious tackles on two of our players Ryan Peters and Chez Issac and they get away with it and are not even booked - both those tackles deserved straight red cards.
"All I am asking is referees to be consistent with their decision making and unfortunately we didn't see it again in this game," he continued. "It's not sour grapes because we won and deservedly so but there must be more consistency by the officials."
Davis will now miss Tuesday's tough away game at Aldershot leaving Devonshire with a headache over team selection with five players already out through injury from his wafer-thin squad.
"We'll have a roll call on Monday and see who is fit and I may have to bring in some of the Academy lads in to make up the squad," he added. "I think we fully deserved to win this game though, we dominated it for most of the time and yes had a bit of luck when they struck the woodwork but we could have scored more than two."
He also praised his players adding: "They are a good side which is why they are high up in the league but my boys showed so much grit and determination, rolled their sleeves up and got on with it which is why we won. Our passing and high pace of the game throughout also paid off."
The Iron early pressure paid off when on 14 minutes James Mulley clipped the ball with the outside of his boot from 25 yards out on the right wing sending it right into the top far corner of the net giving visiting keeper Danny Lewis no chance.
It was a spectacular goal and naturally gave the Iron more confidence as they pushed forward and they should have doubled their score on 20 minutes when a fine cross from the left by Sam Habergham fell straight to Jordan Cox but he could only head high over the bar from six yards out.
The visitors though ended the half strongly and three minutes from the interval split the Iron defence only to see the shot come back off an upright and Jack Bryne was quickest to drive the rebound goal ward only for Hamann to save brilliantly with his legs.
Three minutes after the restart the Iron scored that crucial second goal and it all came from Chez Issac simply chasing down Bryne with the ball, robbing him and heading for goal only for a defender Jared Hodgkiss to put it behind for a corner.
And from that corner - taken by Dan Sparkes - it was Davis coming in at the far post who stooped low to head the ball home for the second goal and his fifth of the campaign.
Naturally with a two goal cushion it gave the Iron some relief as they continued to dominate the game although their forward momentum was hindered on the hour when Cox was forced off, leaving Michael Bakara to come on and link up with again the promising young Simeon Akinola.
After Davis was sent off it gave the visitors fresh impetus and they pushed forward, also taking advantage of some bizarre free-kicks given to them by referee Justin Amey.
Again Hamann pulled off another fine save and when he was beaten full-back Ryan Peters was forced to make a goal-line clearance.
The Iron were now forced on the back foot as Devonshire sacrificed forwards Danny Sparkes and Akinola to bring on more defensive reinforcements.
The visitors did manage to hit the Iron woodwork twice in literally the dying moments of the game but the danger was soon cleared and the home side held on deservedly for all three points with late on Bakara missing an easy chance when though on goal.
Braintree Town: Hamann; Peters, Massey, Brundle, Habergham; Mulley, Isaac, Davis, Sparkes (Smith 77); Akinola (Case 89), Cox (Bakare 59). Unused subs: Walker, Pentney.
Attendance: 751.
