BRIGHTLINGSEA REGENT held firm to defeat Essex rivals MALDON & TIPTREE 1-0, in today’s Ryman League north division match at North Road.

Luke Read scored the decisive goal midway through the first half, poking home from close range after a low, right-wing cross from Josh Mayhew.

Regent moved up to 14th – now just a place and a point behind David Wright’s Jammers.

Elsewhere, it was a truly miserable day for second-from-bottom HEYBRIDGE SWIFTS.

Jody Brown’s side crashed to an 8-1 reverse at home to Cheshunt.

Swifts’ goal was a first-half effort from Billy Hunt, to make it 3-1.

However, they capitulated after that and ended up on the receiving end of a heavy defeat.

WITHAM TOWN suffered a 3-0 defeat at Aveley.