THREE goals apiece for WITHAM TOWN and HEYBRIDGE SWIFTS in their respective games did wonders for both teams’ Ryman League division north survival hopes.

Both of the Essex sides have been flirting with the division north drop zone this year, but their prospects are looking considerably brighter after an important afternoon of action.

While AFC Sudbury were wrapping up the divisional title against Tilbury, perhaps the stand-out result came at Waltham Abbey as Swifts secured a 3-0 victory in a real six-pointer of a game.

Jody Brown’s team had started the day in the bottom three, but they not only sent Abbey back into the drop zone, they gave their own survival hopes a mighty lift.

Jack Barham put Swifts ahead just before half-time, with Lewis Godbold’s 54th minute strike making their position more secure and Matt Pooley delivered the coup de grâce with a 90th minute third.

It lifted Heybridge up to 20th in the table and even more crucially, three points above Waltham Abbey, who are four points below Witham Town after another big result at the Village Glass Stadium.

Adam Flint’s side had been drawn back into the relegation fight by back-to-back defeats, but they lifted themselves towards safety with a 3-2 home win against Soham Town Rangers.

First-half strikes from Damien Green, Ryan Charles and Nathan Koranteng gave the hosts a comfortable three-goal cushion at the interval.

And even though Soham hit back with 51st and 67th-minute goals, Witham held on for three vital points.

It kept them one place above Heybridge and Flint’s side could guarantee their survival on Monday night when they host play-off-chasing AFC Hornchurch at the Village Glass Stadium (kick-off 7.45pm).

Like Witham and Heybridge, MALDON & TIPTREE were another side hitting the scoring trail in a seven-goal thriller against Thamesmead Town.

Rhys Henry gave the Jammers the lead in the 20th minute, before Thamesmead equalised, but Darren McQueen hit back immediately to put the hosts ahead at half-time.

Adam Mills gave Maldon a 3-1 lead after the break, but the visitors pulled level in the closing stages only to lose to a Sam Newson strike in the 89th minute.

Thamesmead were reduced to ten men in the aftermath of the winning goal.

It was a great finish for Maldon, but a play-off finish is looking like a big ask and another side whose top-five hopes are fading is BRIGHTLINGSEA REGENT after they were held to a 0-0 draw at North Road by Aveley.