Saturday's Ryman North action review

However, it was 1-1 at the Wardale Williams Stadium with Luke Callander`s 42nd minute opener being cancelled out by Charlie Portway in first half stoppage time when the Motormen had Billy Drake sent-off five minutes into the second half for an alleged elbowing incident.

There was no stopping the leaders now and four minutes later Sam Clarke put them in front. Four minutes after that Callander scored his second from the penalty spot.

A Stephen Good own goal made it 4-1 on the hour-mark and Callander completed his hat-trick and his 13th league goal of the season to date to make it 5-1 in the 76th minute.

Second-placed Thurrock and third-placed Harlow Town both won, but the two other teams in the top five, AFC Hornchurch and Cheshunt, failed to win.

Thurrock won 2-0 at mid-table Phoenix Sport with goals from Ross Wall after 32 minutes and Harry Agombar just past the hour-mark, while the Hawks inflicted a second successive defeat on Aveley at the Harlow Arena.

Junior Dadson gave the hosts a 36th minute lead that Liam Nash quickly cancelled out two minutes later. Crucially though, the Millers missed a 57th minute penalty given for a foul on Dave Fallah – Arian Retkoceri firing over the bar.

Just two minutes later, Harlow made the visitors pay by taking the lead through Alex Read and then two goals in a minute from Ibrahima Sonko and Fabion Simms in the 67th minute sealed victory.

The Urchins lost 1-0 at Julius Martin Lane against in-form Soham Town Rangers, whose Ryan Sharman scored the only goal 13 minutes from time to make it five games without defeat.

Cheshunt, meanwhile, were held to a 2-2 Theobalds Lane draw by fellow top five contenders Brightlingsea Regent.

But this will almost feel like a defeat for Regent, who played against ten-men for 85 minutes following a fifth minute dismissal of Joe Kizzi for violent conduct.

Adam Bolle gave the ten-men a ninth minute lead that Phil Kelly levelled a minute before the break. New signing John Frendo came off the bench to restore the Ambers lead with less than three minutes remaining but Regent grabbed a point with a stoppage time second for Kelly.

Sixth-placed Cray Wanderers moved level on points with Cheshunt after recording a 2-1 Hayes Lane win over relegation-threatened Waltham Abbey.

Grant Basey put the Wands in front after 28 minutes and then five minutes into the second half Ben Hunt stretched their lead. In-form Christian Assombalonga reduced the deficit six minutes from time, but the Abbots were unable to find a leveller.

The battle to stay in the Ryman League sees Redbridge adrift of fourth-bottom Waltham Abbey by eight points, with second-bottom Barkingside three points better off after sharing a 1-1 draw at Chadfields against Tilbury, whose Tony Martin cancelled out Michael Spencer`s 63rd minute opener for Side in the 74th minute.

Third-bottom Wroxham are level on points with the Abbots and lost a crucial `six-pointer` at home against Haringey Borough, who are now six points clear of the bottom three, courtesy of sub Alex Cathline`s 84th minute winner at Trafford Park.

Two teams hovering just above the drop zone, Witham Town and Heybridge Swifts, met at the Village Glass Stadium and shared a 1-1 draw in which George Cole had Swifts ahead after 56 minutes.

But 10 minutes from time, Jack Fowler earned a straight red card for being the last man when conceding a penalty that Nathan Koranteng duly converted.

Romford are still in need of points after a 2-1 home defeat against Dereham Town left them five points clear of the relegation spots.

Boro got off to a great start when Jamie Dicks gave them a seventh minute lead. But Matt Cook equalised after 34 minutes and then Ryan Crisp won it for the Deres with a goal four minutes before the break.

Mid-table sides Maldon & Tiptree and Bury Town met at the Wallace Binder Group Stadium and it was the Jammers who came out on top.

Darren Mills after seven minutes and Sam Newson six minutes later gave the hosts a two-goal cushion that Josh Mayhew reduced on the hour-mark. But the Jammers grabbed a third to make sure through Darren McQueen on 65 minutes.

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