Witham Town's decision to play their Ryman League division north game against local rivals Heybridge Swifts on a Friday night proved to be a big success for the hosts - both on and off the pitch.

Witham manager Adam Flint told the Times that they were hoping to attract a bumper crowd and the move to bring the game forward a day from the usual Saturday slot attracted the biggest home attendance of the season, with 312 heading to the Village Glass Stadium.

And they were rewarded with an eight-goal match.

In the end, it was success on the pitch for Witham as well as they beat their near neighbours 5-3.

Witham had Ryan Charles, Tim Monsheju and Nathan Koranteng on target before the break to put them 3-0 ahead, but Reece Grant gave the visitors hope at half-time after pulling one back in the 40th minute.

However, Damien Green put Witham three ahead again with a fourth goal two minutes after the restart and Charles added his second of the night for a 5-1 advantage.

There was a late wobble from the hosts as George Cole and Adam Adeoye Yussuf scored for Swifts in the last five minutes, but time ran out for their comeback and Witham held on for a 5-3 victory that lifted them two places in the table and up to 12th.