Amber warning for leaders

David Greene put the Ambers ahead on 18 minutes and Tommy Fletcher’s header made it 2-0 just after the half-hour. Chris Bryan’s second-half penalty miss ended Maldon’s recovery hopes.

They still have a ten-point lead over Thamesmead, who moved into second place with a hard-earned 2-1 victory at Waltham Forest.

Jack Leachman headed home Luke Stanley’s free-kick to give Forest the lead six minutes before the break and Lea Dawson levelled matters just after the hour.

It looked as it Thamesmead, below their best, would have to settle for a point until Chris Edwards grabbed a last-minute winner.

Heybridge are up to third after a comfortable 3-0 home win over Romford. All the goals came in the first half, the opener a 19th-minute penalty by Michael Cheek, his 20th league goal.

Russell Malton netted the second on 40 minutes and Luke Callander made it 3-0 in added time, cementing his position as the league’s top scorer with his 23rd of the season. (Mixed emotions as Swifts celebrate Callander's goal pictured by Gavin Ellis/TGS Photo).

Aveley also moved up one place to fourth with a 3-1 home win over Witham as Grays, who were without a game, slipped from second to fifth.

Jordan Cox took his league tally to 21 by punishing a weak back-pass in the 15th minute and adding a penalty on the half-hour. Danny Emmanuel’s 52nd-minute strike put Witham back in it but Jay Leader’s header soon restored the two-goal margin.

Soham strengthened their grip on sixth place, albeit seven points adrift of the play-off places, with a 3-1 victory at Potters Bar. It took their tally of away goals to 40, seven more than any other club in the league.

The Scholars started the day level on points with their opponents but finished well beaten. Rob Mason scored after 27 minutes and struck again, his 18th league goal, soon after half-time.

Buster Harradine made it 3-0 before the hour and had a penalty saved by Ed Thompson before a free-kick from Harvey Scott-Morris gave the hosts some late consolation.

There were more twists in the battle to avoid the single relegation spot. Ilford stayed at the bottom, a point behind neighbours Redbridge, after their derby at Oakside ended all square.

Jacob Cleaver punished a poor clearance to give the hosts an early lead: he has scored nine of Redbridge’s 22 league goals. Daniel Crowie replied on the hour and Ilford had two shots cleared off the line. It was only Redbridge’s fourth home point and Ilford’s fifth on their travels.

Ware, meanwhile, had luck on their side as they won 3-2 at Chatham. It looked as if they would have to settle for a draw which would have kept them level on points with Ilford, but Austin Gacheru’s last-minute penalty hit the bar.

Ricci Crace had given Ware a 15th-minute lead but Chatham hit back with two goals in four minutes soon after the interval, a free-kick from Lee Hales and a Gacheru strike.

Ware were quickly back on terms through Louis Rose and, although they had Tony Martin sent off with ten minutes left, Elliot King then put them ahead and Gacheru’s miss lifted them to 20th place.

Harlow seem to be pulling clear of the danger zone once again. A last-minute goal by Piers Wixon gave their ten men a 1-0 win over Tilbury, who had found the net in the 69th minute only to be denied by an assistant’s flag. Harlow keeper Bertrand Bossu was sent off before play resumed.

Sudbury moved into the top half of the table with a 2-0 home win over Waltham Abbey, who will consider themselves unlucky after hitting the woodwork twice.

Joe Pearman was denied by the bar before Ryan Henshaw’s 23rd-minute opener and Ayrton Coley struck a post before Leon Antoine clinched the points well into added time.

Spare a thought for Brentwood, whose home game against Needham Market was called off by the match referee. Already behind with their fixtures because of prolonged involvement in the FA competitions, including several replays, they have since been hit hard by the weather and have 23 league matches to squeeze into the last ten weeks of the season.