BRAINTREE TOWN gave their Vanarama National League South play-off aspirations another huge boost after winning 1-0 at struggling Hungerford Town.

Their precious goal came just before the hour-mark, after Luke Allen crossed to Josh Hill.

He floated the ball to Dan Thompson, whose original volley was saved before ricocheting in off defender Alfie Kilgour.

It stretched Braintree’s impressive run to one defeat in six games and was a fantastic result for Brad Quinton’s men, who climbed to eighth in the table, leapfrogging Welling United, who lost 1-0 at home to Havant and Waterlooville.

Both sides have 57 points but Braintree have a marginally superior goal difference - +12 compared to Welling’s +11.

Chelmsford City are seventh and two places better off after a 2-1 victory at home to Poole Town.

Truro City also have 59 points but they lost 2-1 at home to East Thurrock United.

Fifth-placed Hemel Hempstead have 60 points, after their 2-1 victory at home to Chippenham Town, but the sides in third and fourth, Hampton and Richmond Borough and St Albans City, both lost, going down to Concord Rangers and Whitehawk respectively.

Braintree now have five matches left to make their play-off dream a reality.

The next of those is next Saturday’s home match with Concord, which is followed three days later by the visit of Whitehawk to the Ironmongery Direct Stadium.

The remaining three matches are away to Truro (April 21) and at home to Oxford City (April 24) and Gloucester City (April 28).