BRAINTREE TOWN stretched their lead to 11 points at the top of Blue Square Bet South after thrashing ten-man Basingstoke Town 5-2, at Cressing Road.

New signing Stefan Payne hit a hat-trick in the match and Sean Marks and Sam Lechmere were also on target for Iron.

With Chelmsford held at Thurrock and Farnborough without a game, Braintree tightened the grip on top spot.

Iron defender Ollie Thorne cleared Delano Sam-Yorke’s effort off the line in the opening minutes.

But Braintree were given a helping hand when the visitors had Jay Gasson sent off for deliberate handball in the penalty area, six minutes before the break.

After a delay while the referee consulted with his assistant, Marks slotted away the resultant penalty.

Payne then made it 2-0 soon after when he followed up to score from the rebound, after Basingstoke’s on-loan Spurs goalkeeper Mirko Ranieri had saved his first effort.

And although Nathan McDonald had to save from Raymond on the stroke of half-time, Braintree took a 2-0 lead in at half-time.

McDonald was in action again in the opening minutes of the second half when he saved Dolan’s diving header.

And the visitors pulled a goal back seven minutes after the break through Callum Reynolds, who scored from the rebound after McDonald had saved his first effort.

But Payne scored his second of the game minutes later after pouncing on Sam Lechmere’s pass.

And Lechmere got on the scoresheet himself just before the hour mark when he fired in low, after Ranieri had flapped at a cross.

Payne then completed his hat-trick midway through the second half when he capitalised on Reynolds’ sloppy defensive header to fire home.

And although Sam-Yorke pulled another goal back for Basingstoke with 17 minutes to go, Iron claimed another victory to stretch their lead at the top.

MALDON AND TIPTREE are through to the semi-finals of the Championship Manager Cup after winning 2-0 at Ryman League division one south side Fleet Town.

The visitors scored a goal in each half and soaked up Fleet’s pressure to book their place in the last four of the league cup competition.

HEYBRIDGE SWIFTS gained a deserved point after holding Ryman League division one north leaders Needham Market to a 0-0 draw.

Swifts showed great resolve, particularly in the second half when they came under considerable pressure, to edge closer to the play-offs.

Heybridge were at the most productive in the first half and their defenders frequently cleared and blocked the Needham threat.

Needham goalkeeper Danny Gay made an early save to deny Lewis.

But Michael Toner’s blistering drive sailed inches over for Swifts, midway through the first half.

Swifts were forced to defend in the final moments of the first half, with Christy Finch’s shot flashing across the face of goal.

And keeper Ollie Morris-Sanders denying Danny Thrower from point-blank range.

Swifts were grateful to keeper Sanders again midway through the second half when he made a fine save to push away Craig Parker’s powerful drive.

Taylor Hastings then cleared from Finch but Needham were increasingly frustrated as the game wore on, as the game ended goal-less.

Two second-half goals helped WITHAM TOWN see off lowly Basildon United 2-0, in the Essex Senior League.

There was little to write home about in the first half, with neither team looking like scoring at Spa Road.

Oliver Harper missed a good chance early on for Town, for whom goalkeeper Lamor Johnson saved from Sam Taylor.

Witham improved in the second half and looked more intent on keeping possession.

They eventually took the lead nine minutes after the break through James Robinson, whose 25-yard effort surprised keeper Johnson and flew in.

Witham were forced to make changes after that and it was one of their substitutes who doubled their lead, midway through the second half.

Jake Gilder nodded the ball in for a fine opportunist goal, after Robinson had failed to connect with Craig Emery’s high cross.

From then on, Witham dominated the game and Robinson twice had efforts saved.

The luckless John Watson missed a couple of chances and Town should have had more than the two goals they had to show for their efforts.