Saturday's Ryman North action review

Witham Town and VCD Athletic both won away from home on Saturday to keep setting the pace in Ryman North.

Witham still lead the table by a point from VCD who came away with the points from Soham Town Rangers. And Witham needed their 4-2 win at Chatham just to stay ahead of the chasing pack as the entire top half of the table, barring third placed Aveley, banked maximum points.

Tom Devaux put the league leaders ahead on 34 minutes but the Chats equalised within two minutes through Liam Hickey. Hat-trick hero Kris Newby gave Witham a half-time lead with the first of his goals with a smart finish from the edge of the box on 39 minutes. He struck again just before the hour mark and sealed the points 11 minutes from time after Andy Constable had pulled one back on 67 minutes.

VCD had their own hat-trick hero to thank for keeping them in touch at the top, Karl Dent giving the away side their sixth consecutive win. Dent didn't get going until after the break and by then they were a goal behind to James Hall's 43rd minute strike.

First he equalised on 50 minutes and then put them 2-1 ahead on 79 minutes before putting the points beyond doubt from the penalty spot in the final minute.

Third-placed Aveley were beaten by a late two goal smash and grab in a 2-1 defeat at Tilbury. Leading 1-0 thanks to Jay Leader after 67 minutes, they were undone by the Dockers in the final three minutes when Danny Francis equalised on 87 minutes and then a stroked home a penalty in the final seconds of normal time.

Needham Market are now level on points with the Millers after they won by the same scoreline at home to Erith & Belvedere, Ollie Fenn and Sam Newsome giving them a 2-0 lead on 51 and 62 minutes respectively. Mo Conteh made it interesting in time added on with his 91st minute strike.

At Harlow's Barrows Farm, a second half hat-trick from Alex Read helped the fourth placed Hawks to a 3-1 win over Burnham Ramblers. The Ryman new boys had taken an early lead thanks to Billy Hunt's 14th minute goal before Read ripped them apart after the break with goals on 61, 63 and 82 minutes.

Sixth-placed Heybridge Swifts missed the chance to stay ahead of Harlow and close a six point gap to the top after they were held 2-2 away at Cheshunt despite taking a two goal lead into half-time thanks to Neil Cousins on 10 minutes and Reece Morgan after 35.

The Ambers' new player and caretaker manager Omer Riza led his side's fightback after the break, the former Arsenal striker dragging them back into the game on 59 minutes and then heading a leveller two minutes later.

Saturday's only other draw came at Barkingside where Dan Callaway scored a deserved equaliser for the home side with eight minutes to go after Danny Beaumont had put Dereham Town ahead on 63 minutes.

At the other end of the table, third from bottom Ware finally recorded their first win of the season, the only goal in a tight encounter at home to Romford coming from a Spencer Knight penalty 12 minutes from time.

Waltham Forest are still bottom of the table after losing 2-1 away at Maldon & Tiptree. The visitors were 1-0 down to a Jack Stevenson penalty in the ninth minute but gave themselves hope when Oyetunti Oyewale equalised on 16 minutes. Alberto Pinto restored Maldon's lead just before the half hour mark and despite a battling display, Forest couldn't level it.

AFC Sudbury climbed into the top half with a 3-1 win over Redbridge who are still only a couple of places behind in a still fledgling table. Dave Cowley gave a dominant Suds side a 1-0 lead before the break and Michael Brothers doubled it soon after the restart with a spectacular overhead kick from the edge of the box.

Former Suds star Eljay Worrell pulled one back from distance just after the hour mark before Payton Swatman volleyed home with three minutes to go to make sure of all three points.

Waltham Abbey and Thurrock, both going well in the top half, scored four times each during impressive wins on Saturday.

Abbey's return over Wroxham came without reply in a 4-0 home win and they were 3-0 up by half-time. James Peagram grabbed a brace in the fourth and 25th minutes and then Tom Bruno weighed in with a third three minutes before the break when his spectacular free-kick from outside the box found the net. Darelle Russell completed the scoring with the only goal of the second half on 60 minutes.

Goals in added time from Jordan Clark and Charlie Stimson sealed a great performance for Thurrock who won the day's highest scoring fixture at home to Brentwood 4-1.

Nigel Seidu gave Thurrock the lead on 42 minutes before Loui Hazelwood doubled up for the hosts just after the hour mark. Martyn Stokes did pull one back with 20 minutes to go but Clark and then Stimson, put the result beyond doubt to lift Thurrock up to ninth.