BRAINTREE TOWN 1 FC HALIFAX TOWN 0
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Skrill Premier
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Braintree Town ensured FC Halifax Town remained winless on the road in the Skrill Premier as Kenny Davis’ 61st minute penalty proved enough for the Iron to record a welcome three points.
 

The hosts made just one change from the side that line-up for their FA Cup replay at Newport on Tuesday as Alan Massey came back into the team.
 

He had recovered from a concussion injury and replaced Chez Isaac, who was suspended after totting up five bookings during the season.
 

Halifax were looking for their first win away from home in the league, while Braintree were hoping to record their first Skrill Premier three-point haul in more than a month.
 

However, it looked as if neither was going to improve their respective statistics in the wins column of the table in the opening hour of the match.
 

It was tight, but a lack of quality in the final third of both ends of the pitch meant a goalless stalemate would be the final result.
 

So it was no surprise that the breakthrough when it did come wasn’t from open play.
 

Instead it came from a 61st minute penalty.
 

Sean Marks muscled his way past Halifax centre-half Marc Roberts on the byline and advanced towards the goal but was hauled down by Roberts.
 

Referee Dean Treleaven had no hesitation in pointing to the penalty spot and Kenny Davis needed no invitation to ram the ball down the centre past Halifax keeper Matty Glennon.
 

The goal was just what the game needed as both sides upped the tempo.
Braintree pushed for a second, while Halifax threw men forward looking for a way back into the game.
 

And it took a wonderful save by Nick Hamann to preserve the lead on 72 minutes when he somehow managed to tip Joe Ironside’s fierce shot over the bar and away to safety.
 

The visitors piled on pressure towards the end and Braintree were left to breathe a hefty sigh of relief with three points that had looked unlikely for much of the game.