MALDON & TIPTREE gave their outside play-off chances a major boost by winning 2-1 at Soham Town Rangers.

The Jammers started the day sitting tenth in the Ryman League north division, eight points behind fifth-placed AFC Hornchurch.

However, while admitting it would be a tall order, boss Steve Ball said he was refusing to discount a dramatic finish – and that he had been in football long enough to know anything can happen.

His positive words may have put extra fire in his players’ bellies as they enhanced those play-off hopes with a precious victory in Cambridgeshire.

Darren McQueen scored their first goal, just after the hour-mark.

Kieran Monlouis then doubled the Jammers’ lead two minutes from time – only for Jordan Gent to ensure a nervous finale by pulling one back for Soham.

BRIGHTLINGSEA REGENT are another side with top-five ambitions but James Webster’s side lost 2-0 at fellow high-fliers AFC Hornchurch.

The hosts’ first goal came from the penalty spot, converted by George Purcell, awarded for a push by Josh Gould.

David Knight then added a second to make the points safe.

At the other end of the table, fourth-from-bottom HEYBRIDGE SWIFTS suffered a bitterly disappointing 4-1 defeat at home to Haringey Borough.

Boss Jody Brown felt six points from this match and next week’s crunch fixture at Waltham Abbey should be enough to seal their Ryman League future.

However, Saturday’s defeat now ups the pressure heading into that pivotal match at Capershotts.

Things started well enough when George Cole swept home an 11th-minute penalty.

However, Haringey’s Dean Fenton netted late in the first half and Nana Asamoah made it 2-1.

Jorge Sambu added a third two minutes later to give the hosts a mountain to climb.

Anthony Macdonald then hammered the final nail into their coffin in the 90th minute.

Swifts have now dropped into the bottom three as Waltham Abbey won 4-3 at Bury Town.

WITHAM TOWN, who started the weekend a point and a place above Swifts, are also in the relegation dogfight and they suffered a 1-0 defeat at Romford.

Michael Dixon scored the only goal of the game, just before the hour-mark.