Although mathematically still vulnerable at the wrong end of the Ryman League Division One table, Braintree are now virtually safe from the threat of relegation as their troubled season drifts towards its close.

Another low key display on Saturday saw Iron slip down four more places to 14th spot with visitors Oxford City among others leapfrogging above them.

Fielding a disjointed looking and largely inexperienced side still unable to call upon eight regular players through injury, Braintree contributed to their own downfall with some glaring defensive mistakes and a general lack of cohesion.

As it happened Oxford were only just marginally more organised all round and they too could not feel they were at anything like their best but overall the visitors just had that slight edge where it mattered.

It could have been a different outcome had Braintree got the first goal in the 16th minute instead of Oxford who within seconds escaped at one end and scored at the other.

Leon Gutzmore had a powerful header saved on the line by Alan Foster and immediately the goalkeeper sent the ball upfield to set in motion a chance for Stewart McCleary to put the visitors in front.

From then on Braintree were invariably facing an uphill task and never really got to grips with the situation.

There were few serious attempts to product an equaliser and what stability there had been in defence was undermined when Andy Polston had to retire injured just after the interval.

This left Russell Tanner with the problem of holding the fort as best he could but even as hard as he tried he could not do it all on his own.

The lack of understanding at the back was cruelly exposed when a long free kick into the Braintree penalty area went unchallenged in the 57th minute and Michael Thorp was allowed to gain possession with time and space to pick his spot to beat Mick Desborough for Oxford's second goal.

The one bright moment for Braintree came within a minute when a quick break downfield enabled Mark Jones to release a superb 20 yard shot into the Oxford net.

However,this was to prove an isolated incident and there was seldom any indication that another similar strike was forthcoming.

The introduction of the three substitutes did inject a bit more of a positive attitude with Iron's approach work showing more directness but again the final finish was inevitably missing with chief marksman Gutzmore unable to escape the close attention of visiting defenders.

To finalise a disappointing afternoon Braintree gift-wrapped a third goal for Oxford just before the close when an incredible bout of misunderstanding saw the defence play themselves into trouble to present Terry Sweeney with the easiest of chances which he gleefully accepted.

Braintree Town: Desborough, Bond, Jones, Polston (Cherry), Hewes (O'Sulivan), Tanner, Naylor, Quinton, Gutzmore, Fox (Green) and Hooker.

Forthcoming fixture: Saturday, April 15 v Worthing, Ryman League, away, 3pm.

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