A single Dan Holman goal in the third minute was enough to shoot Braintree Town past the Shots as the Iron recorded their tenth home Skrill Premier win of the season with a 1-0 success against Aldershot Town.

It was a welcome return to winning ways for the Iron as they bounced back from two defeats by Lincoln City and boss Alan Devonshire was pleased to avoid making it three in a row.

He said: “There aren’t many times when we’ve gone on a run of defeats so to get back to winning ways again was great.

“It was something we told them before the game and I’m delighted for them.

“It was a nice clean sheet as well and I think Nick (Hamann) only had one save to make from an overhead kick.

“A few more flashed across the goal, but to be fair, I thought we looked quite comfortable.

“I said that to (assistant manager) Keith (Rowlands) with about 15 minutes to go and sometimes it can be the kiss of death but credit to the lads on this one.

“We had a bit of a patched up side out.

“I have to mention the two centre-halves (Dean Wells and Matt Paine) as I thought they were really good and I thought Dan Sparkes, who’s a winger playing left-back, did really well for us.

“The whole team did.

“I’m delighted for them.

“They dug in again and have got another good result for us.”

The three points were settled early in the game when Holman’s persistence in chasing what looked a lost cause paid off.

A mix-up between former Colchester United full-back Chris Barker and Shots keeper Glen Morris gave the Iron striker the opportunity to nip in before either of the defensive duo, poke his toe to the ball and roll it in.

Aldershot responded well and Craig Stanley should have done better with a header from eight yards that he could only direct wide of the target, but the Iron gradually nullified any threat from the visitors.

At the other end James Mulley struck the outside of the post with a shot after a clever ball by Chez Isaac set him free, but the half ended with the hosts holding a slender lead.

Braintree were far more comfortable after the break and went agonisingly close to doubling their lead when Dan Sparkes struck the woodwork for a second time from a free-kick, but a second goal wouldn’t come.

The visitors pressed for an equaliser as the game wore on, with Ryan Peters clearing off the line from an effort by Bradley Bubb and the Shots substitute also had an overhead kick well saved by Hamann as Braintree held on.