Braintree moved back up to the cusp of the Skrill Premier play-off positions with a stunning 4-0 win at Southport.

The Iron’s players shrugged off the many miles they are having to travel this week and put in a sterling performance against a side that had won all of its previous five games at home.

Sean Marks settled any early fears that Braintree would have a hangover from the disappointment of losing in the final minute of their game at Gateshead on Saturday.

His goal in the sixth minute was just the opening that the Iron wanted and once Dan Holman had put them 2-0 ahead just after half-time, there was no doubt of what the end result would be.

James Mulley put the visitors 3-0 up with just under half an hour to go and their job was made even simpler when Southport had Luke George sent off for a second yellow card just after.

And the rout was complete in the 77th minute when Holman fired home his ninth goal in his last 11 appearances to wrap up a good night on the road.

Manager Alan Devonshire said: “The early goal settled us down a bit and I thought we could have gone on to get two or three more in the first half.

“But getting the goal at the start of the second half was good and we fully deserved the win at the end.”

The three points Braintree took from the game moved them up to sixth in the Skrill Premier table, but Grimsby’s win at Wrexham prevented a move back into the top five.

See the paper this week for full reaction to Braintree’s win and all the latest news and exclusive views on the Iron.