Hampton and Richmond's strong run of form was routed 3-0 by play-off chasing Braintree Town in National League South. 

Joe Benton opened the scoring at the half way mark in the first half and the game stayed that way until the last ten minutes. 

As Hampton chased the game, Levi Avantchi and an own goal from Dean Inman added a lot of late gloss to the score line. 

The Beavers first defeat in five matches drops them to 14th in the table due to a win for Dover Athletic and Hemel Hempstead's draw. 

Inman could have opened the scoring inside five minutes when he found space from Lian Vincent's corner and the defender got there but directed beyond the near post. 

Neither side could find much joy early in the game but when the deadlock was broken it was something special as Braintree exchanged quick passes on the right and Matt Rush slid the ball to Benton on the edge of the box, he found space and gave Joe Walsh no chances as he curled the ball into the corner of the net. 

The first half was plagued with a series of injuries which slowed the game down and chances were at a premium but Avantchi came close in stoppage time as Joe Boatchi barrelled down the left and stood the ball up to the far post where the substitute headed just wide. 

Hampton started the second half well but struggled to test Jack Sims in the Braintree goal, despite several presentable free-kicks and cross into the Iron's box, but the away side gave nothing away. 

Stefan Ilic came closest off the bench as the ball came to him on the left side of the box, he went around the outside and got the shot off but Sims batted it away with his legs and grabbed a hold of the rebound. 

Ilic was causing trouble again in the 73rd minute as he dug out a cross and Jake Gray moved onto it and in stride hit a volley but it went straight at the 'keeper. 

After all the Beavers pressure throughout the second period it was a scrappy goal that took it beyond them after 81 minutes, Rush ran parallel with the goal line into the box and cut it back to Kyran Clements whose shot was blocked but the ball bounced to Avantchi to tuck home. 

With two minutes to play two became three as Rush on the counter played the ball across goal to give Avantchi a tap-in, but it deflected off Inman and into the net.