Saturday's Ryman North action review

With the chasing pack all winning or drawing on Saturday, Sudbury took an early second minute lead through Joe Maybanks, and increased it when substitute Jack Newman netted the second after 18 minutes.

In the second period the visitors pulled a goal back through Gavin Lemmon with 12 minutes to go but Sudbury remained firm to win their penultimate home game of the season.

One issue was settled on Saturday - a 4-0 home defeat at the hands of Thurrock means that neighbours Redbridge can finish no higher than twenty-third and only the possibility of an FA reprieve can now save the Motormen from relegation.

Second-placed Thurrock, now assured of a top five spot, took until the 58th minute to break the deadlock through Ross Wall, but then added three more with Dave Cowley on 71 minutes, an own goal by sub Hussainou Jaffa two minutes from time and then a Dan Francis penalty after he had been fouled in stoppage time.

Harlow Town also secured a play-off place but they were made to fight for a 3-2 win by mid-table Tilbury.

Joey Benjamin gave the Hawks a great start with a goal inside the opening five minutes. Alex Read eventually doubled the home side`s lead seven minutes after the break but the Dockers battled back to shock the Hawks with two goals in the last seven minutes from Francis Babalola and Dan Glozier. In the end a last-gasp second goal for Read saved the home side`s blushes.

The fight for the other two top five spots involve Cray Wanderers, AFC Hornchurch, Cheshunt, Brightlingsea Regent and Thamesmead Town.

Four of the contenders faced each other on Saturday, with Hornchurch winning 2-0 at Bridge Road against Brightlingsea, courtesy of a George Purcell spot-kick after 63 minutes and David Knight 19 minutes from time to stay in fifth spot.

Cheshunt were beaten 1-0 at Theobalds Lane by fourth-placed Cray, for whom James Duckworth scored the all-important goal eight minutes before half-time.

Thamesmead ended Dereham Town`s own hopes of a top five finish when a 14th minute Phillippe Blaettler effort sealed a 1-0 Bayliss Avenue success for Terry Spillane`s side.

Barkingside are looking like needing snookers to avoid joining Redbridge in a relegation spot after a 1-0 defeat at Mill Field against Aveley left them ten points adrift of the safety-mark with only four games left. David Fallah`s goal 12 minutes from time settled the points in the Millers` favour.

The third relegation spot is in reality between current occupants Heybridge Swifts, Waltham Abbey, Witham Town and Wroxham.

Swifts suffered a 4-1 Scraley Road defeat to Haringey Borough, despite taking an 11th minute lead from a George Cole penalty. Dean Fenton equalised just before the break and then Nana Asamoah, Jorge Sambu and Anthony Macdonald added further Boro goals in the second half.

Swifts swapped placed with Waltham Abbey after the Abbotts won by the odd goal in seven at mid-table Bury Town`s Ram Meadow.

Josh Mayhew gave the Blues a third minute lead which was quickly wiped out by Ryan Flack but the hosts raced into a 3-1 interval lead with Ollie Hughes and Sam Reed on target. However, a Chris Assombalonga brace on 52 and 60 minutes and Darelle Russell on 66 minutes turned the game in Abbey`s favour.

Witham lost 1-0 in a `six-pointer` at Romford, who are now six points clear of the bottom three, thanks to Michael Dixon`s 58th minute winner.

Elsewhere, Maldon & Tiptree won 2-1 at Soham Town Rangers, with Darren McQueen and a Kieran Monlouis penalty outgunning Jordan Gent's late reply, while Great Wakering Rovers took a 37th minute lead at home to Phoenix Sports through Billy Johnson and held on with ten-men following a 71st minute dismissal for Stuart Hepburn.

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