MALDON & TIPTREE once again underlined their Ryman League division north title credentials as they won on the road to stay seven points clear at the top of the table.

However, it wasn't plain sailing at Brentwood and the Jammers had to stage a late rally to come away with all three points.

Andrew Freeman had given the hosts the lead in the 41st minute and they held that advantage until half-time. Maldon knew they would have to battle after the break to maintain their run of recent good form, but they had to wait until late in the game for the goals to come.

The first arrived in the 81st minute when Gavin Greenfield fired home to pull the Jammers level, but even better was to come four minutes later when Liam Nash fired home what proved to be the winner.

Their win means Maldon have now taken 16 points from their last six games and have won their last four league outings in a row to ensure that they will head into Christmas at the summit of the league.

There was less positive Ryman League division north news for other north Essex teams, though.

HEYBRIDGE SWIFTS' poor run continued as they went down to a defeat in their Essex derby against Romford at Scraley Road.

Things went wrong for the hosts as early as the third minute when Greg Akpele put Romford ahead and it was a lead that they were not to surrender as they ended the game as 1-0 winners.

Swifts are now level on points with third-from-bottom Brentwood after five straight defeats in the league.

Another side struggling for form is WITHAM TOWN, and their defeat at Thamesmead Town means Adam Flints team have not won in division north for almost a month.

During that time since their 2-0 win at Dereham Town, they have drawn three games and lost three, with the most recent of those coming at Thamesmead.

Flint's side beat their hosts 3-2 in the reverse fixture last month but went down 4-2 this time.

Thamesmead held the advantage at half-time after goals in the 16th and 29th minutes by Paul Vines and Alex Tenolia respectively.

Witham hit back after the break with goals from Damien Green and Michael Osei, but each time they thought they had got themselves back in the game, the hosts stretched clear again.

Green made it 2-1 before Tenolia got his second of the game and when Osei struck to pull it back to 3-2, Thamesmead had the answer with Scott Finch's 64th minute goal.

BRIGHTLINGSEA REGENT were without a game.