Lacklustre Harriers had to come from behind against Braintree to take the points and maintain their lead at the top of the Conference.

Mansfield recorded an eleventh straight win to keep within a point of Harriers and with Wrexham surprisingly beaten at Hyde the title race is almost down to just two teams as Wrexham's games in hand are only enough for them to draw level with Harriers.

Harriers were far from their best, as were Braintree, in a very scrappy first half. Neither side troubled the opposition goalkeeper or played really good football. Harriers, in particular, were having real trouble with their passing and keeping possession.

The visitors took the lead a minute before the break; Dan Sparkes' corner from the right was met powerfully by the head of Kenny Davis who was allowed too much room to attack at the near post and gave Danny Lewis no chance to save.

Harriers were slightly better after the interval and had an early chance to draw level but Kyle Storer's 20-yard shot was saved by Nathan McDonald in the Town goal. At the other end Sparkes went close with a free-kick that beat the wall but flew wide.

Just before the hour Harriers introduced Marvin Johnson and switched to a 4-2-4 formation; in under a minute-and-a-half Johnson had created Harriers' leveller.  James Vincent won the ball in midfield and sent Johnson away on the left, his low cross into the goalmouth was turned in by Anthony Malbon for his 17th goal of the season.

Three minutes later Harriers had turned the game on its head; Malbon crossed from the right and Dean Wells slid in in an attempt to clear but instead prodded the ball past McDonald and into his own net.

Fatigue began to show in the Braintree players who had played twice in midweek now that they were behind but Harriers couldn't capitalise and push onto make the game safe.  The home team created more half chances but only once was McDonald called into action to save from Malbon.

Nonetheless, the win was enough to keep Harriers at the top of the league and closer to clinching a play-off spot, they need just two more points from the last four games of the season to be guaranteed one of the four places should Mansfield fail to slip up in their pursuit of the Reds.