It has proved a chastening couple of days for several of north Essex’s sides operating in the Bostik League, but one has had a big reason to celebrate to claim the performance of the weekend award.

It won’t be heading to the premier division unfortunately as Brightlingsea Regent suffered a 2-1 defeat at leaders Dorking Wanderers.

The front runners took control of the game with a Jerry O’Sullivan strike on 11 minutes and the same player doubled the advantage just after the half-hour mark to leave Regent with a mountain to climb.

Billy Hunt gave Brightlingsea a lifeline when he halved the deficit just before half-time to keep them in the game after the break, but an equaliser just wouldn’t come.

Their defeat saw Regent slip a place into the premier division’s relegation zone.

Instead, it is a side looking to join the top flight who get the star performance award this week as Coggeshall Town strengthened their push for honours with a win in division north.

With leaders Bowers & Pitsea losing at Brentwood Town, second-placed Coggeshall went joint top thanks to a 3-2 win at Bury Town.

The Seedgrowers were level pegging with their hosts at half-time after goals from Curtis Haynes-Brown and Connor Hubble, before Ross Wall got the game’s decisive strike on 54 minutes.

Coggeshall are now level on points with Bowers & Pitsea at the top, with the leading duo three clear of third-placed Aveley.

The Millers moved up on Friday night courtesy of a 3-1 win at struggling Witham Town.

Witham were on the back foot early after Tom Richardson’s goal in the third minute and although Johnny Ashman equalised six minutes later to make sure it was level at the break, Aveley stretched clear in the second half.

A goal from Sam Cross put them back ahead on 49 minutes and, as Witham looked for a way back late on, Reggie Hubbard hit them with a third in the final minute of the game.

Witham stayed rock-bottom and are now eight points away from safety ahead of a trip to another struggling side – Tilbury – on Tuesday.

The Dockers prepared for the visit of Witham by claiming a valuable point at Maldon & Tiptree on Saturday as they held the Jammers 0-0 and moved up a place in the table.

Maldon stayed fourth after their goalless draw.

However, there was no point forthcoming for Heybridge Swifts, who were beaten for the first time under new manager Julian Dicks as they lost 3-2 at Great Wakering Rovers.

Swifts had Odei Martin-Sorondo and Kreshnic Krasniqi on target.