Braintree Town beat the wet winter weather but were unable to get the better of Cambridge United at a soggy Amlin Stadium.
Their grouns staff had worked wonders in getting the pitch playable after the rain on Christmas Day, but the Iron slipped to 19th in the Blue Square Bet Premier table with a 3-0 defeat.
A first-half goal by Michael Gash and ones after the break for Sam Smith and Andy Pugh saw Cambridge safely home despite playing the final 25 minutes with only ten men after Tom Shaw had been sent off for a reckless challenge on Sam Habergham.
Braintree's next game is now at home against Woking on Saturday.
