Ebbsfleet United lie perilously close to being relegated from the Blue Square Premier following a 3-1 defeat away to Braintree Town.

On a cold Easter Monday afternoon, Liam Enver-Marum’s goal was not enough to salvage anything for the Fleet, who also saw Stefan Payne sent off in the second half for a rash tackle on Nicky Symons.

Following Saturday’s 2-0 defeat at home to Forest Green Rovers, Ebbsfleet manager Liam Daish made two changes to his side, with Enver-Marum replacing Nathan Elder up front and Liam Bellamy playing in midfield instead of Neil Barrett.

Braintree manager Alan Devonshire fielded a solid 4-4-2 formation, with Ben Wright’s delivery from set-pieces proving to be a constant danger throughout.

The Fleet got off to a good start in the match, with Braintree goalkeeper Nathan MacDonald forced to turn over an Enver-Marum cross and Matthew Godden having a goal ruled out for offside.

However, it was Braintree that took the lead on 12 minutes when James Mulley found space on the byline and pulled the ball back for an unmarked Luke Daley to tap home from close range.

The hosts could have doubled the lead less than 10 minutes later when Fleet goalkeeper Preston Edwards pulled off a good save to tip a curling Wright free-kick around the post and, from the resulting corner, Phil Walsh managed to acrobatically clear the ball off the line.

Edwards then made a stunning save to deny a Sean Marks header before Enver-Marum equalised from eight yards out following good interplay with Payne in the 36th minute.

Three minutes later, Godden hit the post with a beautiful free-kick before Braintree raced upfield and Mulley headed home to make it 2-1 after a Wright free-kick was not dealt with by the Fleet defence.

The second half was a quiet affair, with Enver-Marum going the closest to scoring as he shot across goal and wide following a driving run.

The scoring was completed in the 65th minute as Kenny Davis slotted home a penalty following a foul on Mulley by Tom Phipp.

After this goal, the Fleet’s frustrating afternoon was completed five minutes later as Payne was shown red for a two-footed tackle on Symons, who was subsequently stretchered off.

Ebbsfleet now find themselves in 23rd place in the league and 11 points from safety with just seven games left to save their Blue Square Premier status.

Ebbsfleet: Edwards, Howe, Lorraine (Saville 77), Walsh, Gwillim, Phipp, Bellamy, Payne, Carew (Elder 75), Enver-Marum, Godden (Azeez 84)

Attendance: 822