YORK CITY 3 BRAINTREE TOWN 0

Vanarama National League

For a second time in their last three outings, Braintree Town lost to a side sitting below them in the Vanarama National League table as they were beaten 3-0 at York City.

Both teams are battling to avoid relegation and, while the Minstermen, who remain in the bottom four, gave their hopes a huge boost, the Iron are now just two points above the drop zone.

It may not have been any sort of vintage display by York, but timely goals allowed them to build pressure where it counted, while the Iron were unable to punch a telling hole in the home defences.

The result means the Iron have now won just once in their last six outings and they will have to pull themselves out of a disappointing run if they are to safeguard their National League status.

There were three changes for the Iron from the side that had started the 1-0 defeat at Tranmere Rovers seven days before, with two of those returning from injuries.

Central defender Jake Goodman made his first start since pulling his hamstring at Macclesfield in mid-February, while goalkeeper Sam Beasant was back in after leg and groin problems had kept him out for four games.

That meant keeper Ben McNarama dropped out, while Christian Mbulu started on the bench and the third change saw Lee Barnard in the list of substitutes as Kris Twardek came back into the starting side.

Braintree manager Hakan Hayrettin had called on his players to be positive and they responded well in the opening minutes.

It was a solid start from the Iron, who were keen to take the game to their hosts and a free-kick from Michael Cheek fizzed past the post in a close-call for the visitors.

It meant York were placed on the back foot in the opening part of the game, but they saw that out and took the lead in the 11th minute.

York’s Danny Holmes was fouled as he advanced towards the Braintree area and referee Tom Nield awarded the hosts a free-kick 25 yards out.

It was the experienced Jon Parkin who stepped forward to take it and he curled in a shot with pace and power past the wall and into the Iron net to put an end to Braintree’s positive opening.

They knew they had to respond, but the game became a bit scrappy, with both sides recognising the magnitude of the game and defences looking a touch nervy at times.

The closest Braintree came to equalising before half-time was just after the half-hour mark from a free-kick midway in the York half that caused panic in the home penalty area.

It ended with the ball glancing off the crossbar before going over to safety although there was also a chance when Chez Isaac fired in a free-kick that home keeper Scott Loach was able to scramble away.

However, they were hit by a bitter blow in the seconds before the half-time break.

In stoppage-time, an innocuous-looking cross from the right by Cheltenham Town loanee Amari Morgan-Smith was not claimed by Beasant and another loan player from Cheltenham, Asa Hall, was able to force the ball in off the woodwork.

Braintree suddenly had a mountain to climb after the break, but there was no miraculous comeback.

They struggled to make much in the way of clear-cut chances, although Jack Midson was unfortunate to lift the ball just over as he looked to lob the advancing Loach.

It was a rare scare on the home goal, though, as a breakthrough just wouldn’t come and the mountain got significantly bigger in the 76th minute when Morgan-Smith fired in from the edge of the box to open a three-goal lead.

The third goal left York able to see the game out in comfort and although Braintree tried to chase a late consolation, if refused to come as the hosts held on to their clean sheet.

Braintree Town: Sam Beasant, Sean Clohessy, Jerome Okimo, Manny Parry, Jake Goodman, Sam Corne (Kyron Farrell 71), Chez Isaac, Reece Hall-Johnson, Kris Twardek (Joe Maybanks 55), Jack Midson, Michael Cheek.

Unused subs: Harry Lee, Lee Barnard, Christian Mbulu.

Referee: Tom Nield.