Two red cards in the opening 32 minutes did little to help Braintree Town’s bid to put a dent in Barnet’s good start to the Skrill Premier season.

 

The Iron lost both their centre-halves before half-time and despite a brave attempt in warm temperatures, the mathematics of nine against 11 proved too much as they lost 3-0.

 

Central defender Dean Wells was shown a straight red card for a challenge on Barnet’s Mark Byrne in the second minute that referee Craig Hicks deemed to be dangerous play.

 

And Alan Massey was given his marching orders after he pulled back the Bees' Harry Crawford in a goal-scoring position on 32 minutes.

 

Nathan McDonald saved the subsequent penalty and Braintree kept it scoreless for the rest of the half, but second-half strikes by Keanu Marsh-Brown, Mark Byrne and Jake Hyde saw Barnet ease home after the break.

 

Braintree boss Alan Devonshire said immediately after the game that he would be looking back at video footage of the game to see whether they could appeal against Wells' sending off as he didn't feel it was a dangerous tackle.

 

See this week's paper for full reaction and a match report.