Maldon reach half-century

Their 14th successive win was probably their luckiest. Harlow had much the better of the game but failed to take their chances and lost out to Jamie Guy’s 16th league goal of the season in the 73rd minute. Harlow’s hopes of hitting back were dented when Michael Akande was sent off shortly afterwards.

It was a good day for second-placed Grays even though their game at Redbridge was postponed: the three sides immediately behind them were all beaten.

Aveley, who were third, had an afternoon to forget, losing 4-1 at home to Wroxham and finishing with nine men. Jamie Speller put Wroxham ahead after 35 minutes and the game turned decisively their way five minutes later, when Aveley keeper Jason Willis was dismissed after clashing with Ross Durrant and Gavin Lemmon converted the penalty.
Speller made it 3-0 soon after half-time and Jordan Cox was given his marching orders on the hour. Durrant added a fourth before Paul Burnett managed a consolation goal for the depleted Millers.

That result meant that Heybridge took over third place, on goals scored, despite their own 3-1 home defeat by Brentwood. Abs Seymour broke the deadlock on the stroke of half-time and Alex Read continued his prolific form by making it 2-0 just before the hour. Ben Newson pulled one back but Michael Cheek missed a penalty that would have made it 2-2 and Read punished him with a clincher, his 14th league goal to go with nine in the FA competitions.

Thamesmead, who were fifth, went down 3-2 at home to Cheshunt. After a scoreless first half, Baff Addae gave the hosts a 47th-minute lead which was immediately wiped out by Courtney White. A Chris Edwards free-kick soon put Thamesmead in front again but White’s header went in off the bar to square it with 12 minutes left. It could have gone either way after that, but it was Cheshunt who took the points with an 84th-minute header by 17-year-old Tommy Fletcher.

That enabled Potters Bar to reclaim fifth place with a comfortable 4-1 win at Waltham Forest. Jamie-Lee O’Donoghue’s long-range shot gave them a fourth-minute lead which was extended by Danny Johnson in the 34th minute. Jose Espinoza struck twice in eight minutes around the hour mark, leaving Forest the consolation of a Corey Whitely goal in the 73rd minute.

The next three sides in the table all won to maintain their bids for a play-off place. A single goal was enough for Soham at home to Chatham. It came from Luke Stanley after 14 minutes and the free-scoring Rob Mason should have added two or three more before half-time, hitting the bar with his closest effort.

Tilbury dented Needham Market’s impressive away record, helped by Jordan Pavett’s 32nd-minute red card. Sam Cutler gave Dockers the lead five minutes after half-time with a shot that hit the underside of the bar and sparked an ‘over-the-line’ controversy. (Mikey Cartwright’s picture shows the incident but does not give too many clues!) Duane Wright’s own goal doubled the lead in the 63rd minute and, although he made amends by scoring at the ‘wright’ end 11 minutes later, Needham could not avert a 2-1 defeat.

Witham edged out Romford 1-0, defending well after Emeka Onwubiko’s goal in the 21st minute. Romford skipper Jack Barry was sent off near the end.

Bottom club Ware had the chance to move up two places thanks to the postponements which sidelined Redbridge and Ilford but they failed to take it, going down 2-0 at Sudbury. Tom Cutts broke the deadlock after 55 minutes and Dave Cowley secured a very welcome victory for the hosts four minutes into added time.