Jammers hit the summit

Maldon and Tiptree had an increased chance of going top after the Felixstowe and Walton United match was called off. The Jammers welcomed Brightlingsea Regent- who were hoping to complete a Maldon double. 

The hosts went ahead just before half time, Freddie Sears scoring from the spot, and got a second eleven minutes from time, Mikey Faulkner giving them some breathing space. Faulkner then added a third, and that was that, Malden a point clear at the summit. 

Third place Waltham Abbey were thirteen points behind the leaders and seven points clear of sixth place as we kicked off. The Abbotts travelled to take on fourteenth place Cambridge City, their hosts having lost their way a little of late- seven without a win coming into this one- but it was City who went ahead twenty three minutes from time, Freddie Hockey opening the scoring. He didn’t only open it, he closed it, as there were no further goals- City back to winning ways and up to thirteenth. 

Fourth place Bowers and Pitsea went into their trip to Grays Athletic as our top scorers, having scored seventy four goals this season- and hoped for more. Bowers were looking for a sixth win in a row and are were form side, eleven unbeaten, but it was Grays who went ahead six minutes before half time, Gabriel Chapps with the opener. Fifteen minutes from time Chapps scored again, this one from the spot, and victory put four points between Athletic and the drop zone, a perfect start for their new management team. Bowers stay fourth. 

Stanway Rovers will consider themselves unlucky not to have completed a Maldon and Tiptree double in midweek, but they were up against it early on as they hosted Newmarket Town. Oscar Dean put the Jockeys ahead on seventeen minutes, and only four minutes later Jahkyah Ebanks-Blake added a second. Dean delivered a third on twenty seven minutes to make things comfortable, but they were a little less comfortable when they were reduced to ten men fourteen minutes from time, Lennon King seeing red. It mattered not, the Jockeys moving into the top ten. 

Seventh place Gorleston were at home to second bottom Downham Town, the visitors saying an emotional farewell to their most successful boss, Dale Stokes, who headed to a new job in the USA following this match. The Greens finally broke through eighteen minutes from time, Luke Johnson the scorer, and that turned out to be the only goal, seeing Gorleston climb back into the top five. 

Downham are six points from safety. 

Ninth place Tilbury, with only one defeat from six, travelled to take on Walthamstow, their hosts having lost two of their previous three- and the Dockers were ahead on twenty seven minutes, Jack Hayes with the goal. Stow drew level from the spot ten minutes into the second half, Brian Garzon scoring from the spot, and, five minutes into added time, penalty, Garzon again, two-one! Stow are fifteenth. 

Concord Rangers, who hit five in midweek, travelled to another seaside to take on Lowestoft Town, the Trawler Boys three points above the drop zone and looking to recover from their defeat against Redbridge last time out. The Beachboys were ahead just before the half hour, Stephan Toussaint with his thirteenth goal of the season scoring for the fourth match in succession, and they added another sixteen minutes from time, Harrison Day doubling the lead. Mitchell Belmar quickly got one back, but two minutes from time Khris Oti got a third for the visitors, and they go ninth. 

Witham Town travelled to Mildenhall Town, Hall having slipped to only two points above the bottom four after five defeats in a row. Witham were also in poor form, with six defeats and one win from seven, and fell behind in first half added time, Ryan Sharman putting the hosts ahead. Early in the second half Jordan Nicholson added a second for the hosts, but with sixteen minutes left it was game on, Jordan Elongo getting one back- and it was to quickly get worse for the hosts. Six minutes from time Ollie Bell delivered an equaliser, and three minutes after that it was three-two to the visitors, Ernest Okoh making it three-two Witham! They climb to twelfth, whilst Hall are eighteenth and looking over their shoulder. 

Finally Heybridge Swifts, four points from safety, were rather desperate for three points as they travelled to face bottom side Brantham Athletic. The hosts were looking to avoid a sixth successive loss, and they did just that, neither side able to score. Athletic are twenty five points from safety, whilst Swifts are four points from safety.