Dartford boss Tony Burman admitted Braintree won the mind games at Princes Park on Boxing Day.

The Essex side took an early lead from the penalty spot and went on to show exactly why they boast the fifth-best defensive record in the Vanarama Conference.

Darts rarely looked like getting back into the game and a second goal after the break killed them off.

Burman said: "They're a difficult team to play against, Braintree, and when they got their noses in front with the penalty, it's a good start for them. They're difficult to break down at 0-0 and they're more difficult to break down at 1-0.

"We had enough half-chances to get even but the second half was very, very disappointing.

"Braintree are difficult to play against and I think they've got into our minds a little bit, which I did warn all the players about before the game - in respect of trying to slow the game down and disrupt your pattern a little bit.

"Fair play to them, you have to deal with that, but it doesn't help having a penalty awarded against you after six minutes.

"They do what they do and we were warned about it. They keep to their jobs very well."

As much as he gave credit to the visitors, Burman was critical of his own team's play.

"The second half was very disappointing," he said. "From the back, from Jason (Brown), we looked like we were knocking the ball straight down the middle. It wasn't giving anyone time to get up from the back area.

"We played too deep in the second half - and it's not what we wanted. Believe you me, it wasn't what we wanted.

"Our guys just weren't given enough time to get up from the back.

"The second half, for me, was a real blow."

Dartford, who remain four points from safety, are away to fellow strugglers Alfreton on Sunday.