Braintree climbed out of the Blue Square Bet Premier drop zone by beating fourth-placed Forest Green Rovers.

Sean Marks tucked home a loose ball to give Braintree the lead and Luke Daley's 12-yard volley made it 2-0.

The hosts had Ryan Peters sent off for a second booking and Chris Stokes' close-range header reduced the deficit.

Kenny Davis scored Braintree's third from the spot after Aarran Racine felled Marks, while Rovers had Omar Koroma dismissed for a second caution.

VIEWS FROM THE DRESSING ROOM

Braintree Town assistant manager Keith Rowland told BBC Essex:

"I thought from start to finish we were worthy winners of the game. We set our stall out early, gave them a good game and put them under pressure.

"We played a high-tempo game, which the two forwards suited, and we've got two wide boys who are quick, so we try and use them.

"(Sean Marks) was a handful all night for them, but the players around him worked hard.

"I thought it was a good performance from the middle of the pitch, through the two centre-halves, the two central midfielders and the two boys up front."

Forest Green Rovers manager Dave Hockaday told BBC Gloucestershire:

"It wasn't good enough. That's the worst we've played all season.

"We can go on about missed chances and decisions, but it wasn't good enough. It's the poorest we've played all season and I'm embarrassed by it.

"They turned up to compete and we haven't. We didn't deserve anything from the game.

"Whatever the reasons, when you step over the white line, there's no excuses."

Lineup, Bookings (9) & Substitutions (6)

Braintree Town

  • 22 Naisbitt
  • 03 Habergham
  • 05 Paine Booked
  • 15 Massey
  • 19 Wells
  • 08 Davis
  • 12 Daley
  • 17 Mulley (Watts - 87' )
  • 02 Peters Dismissed after an earlier booking
  • 09 Marks (Sheppard - 90' )
  • 20 Holman (O'Connor - 75' )

Substitutes

  • 16 O'Connor
  • 28 Watts
  • 11 Sparkes
  • 26 Hunt
  • 14 Sheppard

Forest Green Rovers

  • 23 Russell
  • 03 Stokes Booked
  • 05 Turley Booked
  • 15 Oshodi (Hodgkiss - 57' )
  • 21 Racine Booked
  • 22 Green
  • 08 Klukowski (Brogan - 58' )
  • 12 Collins Booked
  • 07 Koroma Dismissed after an earlier booking
  • 20 Norwood
  • 27 Jarvis (Taylor - 57' )

Substitutes

  • 02 Hodgkiss
  • 19 Rowe
  • 28 Brogan
  • 09 Styche
  • 14 Taylor
Ref: Breakspear
Att: 480

Match Stats

Shots

12 11

On target

5 5

Corners

3 5

Fouls

8 13

Live Text Commentary

90:00 +6:12 Full time

Full Time The referee signals the end of the game.

90:00 +4:59 Substitution

Substitution Kaine Sheppard comes on in place of Sean Marks.

90:00 +3:21

The ball is crossed by Chris Stokes, Dean Wells manages to make a clearance. Chris Stokes delivers the ball.

90:00 +1:30

Danny Naisbitt takes the direct free kick.

90:00 +1:30 Dismissal

Dismissal Omar Koroma dismissed for second bookable offence.

90:00 +0:40

Omar Koroma gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Dean Wells.

89:56

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Dean Wells by Omar Koroma. Danny Naisbitt restarts play with the free kick.

89:24

Jamie Collins takes a shot. Blocked by Dean Wells.

89:10

Steve Brogan crosses the ball.

88:20

Headed effort from inside the area by Omar Koroma misses to the right of the target.

87:51

Paul Green sends in a cross, Kenny Davis manages to make a clearance.

86:20 Substitution

Substitution Ryan Watts comes on in place of James Mulley.

85:50

Omar Koroma takes a shot. Save made by Danny Naisbitt.

85:31

Paul Green takes a shot. Blocked by Kenny Davis.

81:29

Sean Marks provided the assist for the goal.

81:29 Goal scored

Goal - Kenny Davis - Braintree 3 - 1 Forest Grn Penalty taken right-footed by Kenny Davis and scored. Braintree Town 3-1 Forest Green.

80:57 Booking

Booking Jamie Collins is given a yellow card.

80:30 Booking

Booking Aarran Racine is booked.

79:47

Kenny Davis delivers the ball from the free kick right-footed from left channel, Unfair challenge on Sean Marks by Aarran Racine results in a Penalty.

79:47 Booking

Booking Jamie Turley is given a yellow card.

79:19

Unfair challenge on Sean Marks by Jamie Turley results in a free kick.

78:11

Chris Stokes produces a cross, blocked by Pat O'Connor. Corner taken left-footed by Steve Brogan, clearance by Kenny Davis. James Norwood produces a right-footed shot from just outside the area that goes harmlessly over the bar.

77:55

The ball is delivered by Jared Hodgkiss, clearance made by Matthew Paine.

74:56

Corner taken by Kenny Davis from the left by-line to the near post, clearance by Jamie Turley.

74:56 Substitution

Substitution Pat O'Connor comes on in place of Dan Holman.

73:28 Goal scored

Goal - Chris Stokes - Braintree 2 - 1 Forest Grn Chris Stokes finds the back of the net with a headed goal from close range. Braintree Town 2-1 Forest Green.

72:31

The free kick is swung in left-footed by Steve Brogan, save by Danny Naisbitt.

72:31 Dismissal

Dismissal The referee red cards Ryan Peters for second bookable offence.

72:22

Ryan Peters concedes a free kick for a foul on Omar Koroma.

70:38

Sam Habergham provided the assist for the goal.

70:38 Goal scored

Goal - Luke Daley - Braintree 2 - 0 Forest Grn A goal is scored by Luke Daley from deep inside the penalty box to the bottom right corner of the goal. Braintree Town 2-0 Forest Green.

70:21

The ball is swung over by Sam Habergham.

69:18

Foul by James Mulley on Paul Green, free kick awarded. Direct free kick taken by Sam Russell.

68:41

Foul by Jamie Turley on Sean Marks, free kick awarded. Free kick taken by Kenny Davis.

68:08

Close range headed effort by Jamie Turley goes wide of the left-hand upright.

67:21

Steve Brogan crosses the ball from the free kick left-footed from left channel.

67:21 Booking

Booking Ryan Peters shown a yellow card.

67:15

Ryan Peters challenges Matt Taylor unfairly and gives away a free kick.

64:59

The ball is sent over by Jared Hodgkiss, clearance by Sam Habergham. Dan Holman fouled by Paul Green, the ref awards a free kick. Danny Naisbitt takes the direct free kick.

63:21

The ball is sent over by Steve Brogan, clearance by James Mulley.

63:10

The ball is sent over by James Norwood.

62:50 Booking

Booking Matthew Paine is shown a yellow card.

62:43 Booking

Booking Booking for Chris Stokes for unsporting behaviour.

61:06

Sean Marks fouled by Aarran Racine, the ref awards a free kick. The ball is crossed by Luke Daley, Matthew Paine has a headed effort at goal from deep inside the area missing to the left of the target.

60:20

Matt Taylor challenges Dean Wells unfairly and gives away a free kick. Danny Naisbitt restarts play with the free kick.

60:02

Dan Holman concedes a free kick for a foul on Aarran Racine. Direct free kick taken by Sam Russell.

59:10

Effort from deep inside the area by Jamie Collins misses to the left of the goal.

58:44

Corner taken by Steve Brogan from the left by-line to the near post.

57:58 Substitution

Substitution Steve Brogan replaces Yan Klukowski.

56:44 Substitution

Substitution Jared Hodgkiss joins the action as a substitute, replacing Eddie Oshodi.

56:44 Substitution

Substitution Matt Taylor replaces Nathaniel Jarvis.

56:31

Dan Holman produces a right-footed shot from the edge of the box and misses to the left of the target.

56:19

The ball is swung over by Luke Daley.

55:23

Free kick taken by Danny Naisbitt.

55:03 Booking

Booking Omar Koroma is cautioned.

51:50

Sean Marks takes a shot. Sam Russell makes a save.

46:48

Eddie Oshodi challenges Sean Marks unfairly and gives away a free kick. Danny Naisbitt takes the free kick.

45:47

The ball is sent over by Jamie Collins, Matthew Paine makes a clearance. Corner taken short by Yan Klukowski. Yan Klukowski has a shot on goal from outside the box which misses right.

45:01

The second half has started.

45:00 +2:55 Half time

Half Time The whistle is blown to end the first half.

45:00 +2:23

Luke Daley takes the outswinging corner, Effort on goal by Sean Marks from just inside the penalty area goes harmlessly over the target.

45:00 +2:09

Luke Daley sends in a cross, Chris Stokes makes a clearance.

45:00 +0:28

The offside flag is raised against Nathaniel Jarvis. Indirect free kick taken by Danny Naisbitt.

45:00 +0:05

The ball is crossed by James Norwood.

41:35

Luke Daley takes the inswinging corner, Dean Wells takes a shot. Clearance by Jamie Turley.

39:45

Aarran Racine challenges Sean Marks unfairly and gives away a free kick. Luke Daley crosses the ball from the free kick right-footed from right channel, save made by Sam Russell.

36:18

Effort by Dan Holman from a long way out goes over the crossbar.

35:49

Luke Daley takes a shot. Blocked by Aarran Racine.

33:56

Sam Habergham sends in a cross, clearance by Chris Stokes.

33:15

Dan Holman takes a shot from inside the box clearing the bar.

31:06

The ball is swung over by James Norwood.

30:38

Corner from the right by-line taken by Yan Klukowski, clearance made by Matthew Paine.

30:22

James Norwood takes a shot. Danny Naisbitt makes a save.

29:46

James Norwood produces a cross, Kenny Davis makes a clearance.

27:46

Luke Daley sends in a cross.

28:08

Assist on the goal came from Luke Daley.

28:08 Goal scored

Goal - Sean Marks - Braintree 1 - 0 Forest Grn Sean Marks grabs a goal from close in to the bottom left corner of the goal. Braintree Town 1-0 Forest Green.

27:46

The ball is swung over by Sean Marks.

23:47

James Mulley gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Paul Green. Yan Klukowski crosses the ball from the free kick right-footed from left channel, clearance by Ryan Peters.

21:28

The ball is swung over by Chris Stokes, Alan Massey makes a clearance. Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Jamie Turley by James Mulley. Yan Klukowski crosses the ball from the free kick right-footed from right channel, save by Danny Naisbitt.

20:08

Chris Stokes sends in a cross, blocked by Matthew Paine. Corner taken right-footed by Yan Klukowski to the near post, Ryan Peters manages to make a clearance.

17:27

James Norwood crosses the ball, Matthew Paine manages to make a clearance.

16:59

Free kick awarded for a foul by Ryan Peters on James Norwood. Free kick taken by Chris Stokes.

14:42

Jamie Turley crosses the ball, Close range effort by Yan Klukowski clears the crossbar. Jamie Collins challenges Sean Marks unfairly and gives away a free kick. Dean Wells takes the free kick.

14:14

The ball is swung over by Jamie Turley, clearance by Ryan Peters.

14:03

The ball is sent over by Sam Habergham.

13:30

The ball is delivered by Ryan Peters, Jamie Collins manages to make a clearance.

13:13

Nathaniel Jarvis gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Dean Wells. Free kick taken by Dean Wells.

12:46

Ryan Peters delivers the ball, Eddie Oshodi manages to make a clearance.

11:04

Shot from outside the penalty box by Luke Daley goes wide right of the goal.

5:18

Nathaniel Jarvis is flagged offside by the assistant referee. Indirect free kick taken by Danny Naisbitt.

3:27

Nathaniel Jarvis challenges Dean Wells unfairly and gives away a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Danny Naisbitt.

2:26

Centre by Ryan Peters, Jamie Collins makes a clearance. Centre by Ryan Peters, Eddie Oshodi makes a clearance. Kenny Davis has a shot on goal from outside the box which misses right.

2:08

The ball is crossed by Kenny Davis, clearance by Chris Stokes.

1:11

Chris Stokes fouled by Luke Daley, the ref awards a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Sam Russell.

0:00

The game kicks-off.

Live text and data provided by The Press Association