Entertaining Thamesmead move up

Heybridge had the better of the early going but their final ball let them down and, as Thamesmead began to impose themselves, Nicky Eyre made a terrific close-range save from Stuart Zanone’s fierce drive to deny them the lead.

Not for long, though: Zanone powered home a loose ball in the 22nd minute and Baff Addae added another five minutes later.

It was almost 3-0 immediately after half-time when Danny Barber headed against his own bar, instead of which Michael Cheek pulled a goal back in the 51st minute with his 19th league goal, helped by a big deflection off defender Sean Roberts.

Lewis Tozer restored the two-goal margin on 65 minutes when he was allowed a free header from a corner and Addae grabbed his second two minutes later. More might have followed, Zanone coming closest with a shot that hit the foot of a post.

Aveley climbed to third spot, coming from behind to earn a 3-1 derby win at Tilbury. After a goalless first half, the game sprang to life in the first nine minutes after the break as Emiel Aiken gave Dockers the lead and Aveley hit back through Jack Stevenson and Jordan Cox. A penalty by Cox four minutes from time, his 17th league goal, made sure.

Romford were two up in 15 minutes at Cheshunt through Lewis Francis, with a penalty, and Matt Toms, only for Cheshunt to hit back with two goals in four minutes as half-time approached. Corey Whitely and Joe Clemo were on target (the celebrations after Clemo's goal are pictured by Gavin Ellis/TGS Photo).

Kurt Smith put Romford 3-2 up eight minutes after the interval and, somehow, that was the final score as Romford cleared several efforts off their own line and missed several easy chances at the other end.

Witham were also 2-0 up early at Harlow, goals coming from Tom Devaux and Lewis Godbold. They, too, were pegged back by strikes from Piers Wixon and Ben Hart just after the hour, and it finished 2-2.

There was more home misery for Needham Market. They went down 1-0 to Chatham, for whom Harry Smith scored after 20 minutes, and the Marketmen remain winless at home after 12 matches, seven of them lost.