It wasn’t the scoreline that manager James Webster was looking for in his 300th game in charge of Brightlingsea Regent.

The R’s fell to a 1-0 Ryman League division north defeat at Phoenix Sports.

A first-half goal from Adem Ramadan gave the home side the win despite a dominant performance in the second half from the visitors.

Pressure from Phoenix saw keeper Daniel Beeson called on to make a double save before a goal-line clearance from Regent kept the scores level early in the first period.

Ramadan put the home side in front on 33 minutes.

A deflected cross was punched to the edge of the box by Beeson and Ramadam hit a shot into the goal at the near post.

Sports took the 1-0 lead into the break but Brightlingsea came out brightly in the second half.

Josh Gould’s long-range effort was parried by Phoenix keeper Steve Phillips as the visitors looked to get back in the game.

Gould had another effort but it went just over the bar before Kelly almost equalised as the ball was played into the box but his effort was kept out.

The chances kept coming for Regent and a Kelly header was safely held by Phillips.

Kelly had another chance in the Phoenix box but couldn’t force the ball into the goal.

Phillips then came to the rescue for Phoenix as he managed to tip a shot over the bar.

But despite their pressure Regent couldn’t find an equaliser.

Maldon and Tiptree fell to a heavy defeat against struggling Waltham Abbey.

Abbey took a 3-0 win at Park Drive that saw them move off the bottom of the table and up to 20th in the division.

The visitors made a quick start and Piers Wixon gave them the lead on seven minutes.

After the break, two goals from Christian Assombalonga on 67 and 90 minutes sealed the win.

Heybridge Swifts lost out to a solitary goal at Tilbury.

Tony Martin scored the all-important winner on 18 minutes.

Witham Town battled to an excellent 3-2 win against visiting Barkingside.

However, Tyrone Scarlet made it 1-0 to the visitors after five minutes at the Village Glass Stadium.

But, eight minutes later the sides were level again when John Watson grabbed an equaliser.

Scott Kemp then put Witham in front when he fired home on 37 minutes.

Scarlet equalised for Barkingside on 62 minutes but Kemp put Witham back in front two minutes later.

And the home side held on to their lead to take the win.