BILLY Hunt was the hero as BRIGHTLINGSEA REGENT held on for a precious 1-0 victory at Leatherhead.

The striker netted on the hour-mark - curling home in brilliant fashion - as Tom Rothery's men celebrated back-to-back wins, following last week's important 3-2 victory against Burgess Hill Town.

The Leatherhead keeper had earlier made great saves from Aaron Condon, Joe Yaxley and Hunt.

Regent were forced to hang on in the latter stages but defended manfully to bring all three points back to the Taydal Stadium.

Given the significance of the game, this surely has to take the performance of the day prize among the Gazette's Bostik League sides.

Regent are fourth from bottom in the table, one place and two points above the drop zone, and they are back on the road on Wednesday night, when they head to the Sussex coast to take on Lewes.

Elsewhere, WITHAM TOWN also deserve huge credit after what could prove a monumental division north victory against Romford.

Sam Ashford scored both goals in a 2-0 success - both from the penalty spot, early in the second half - and it completed back-to-back wins for Mark Ashford's side, following last week's triumph against AFC Sudbury.

They remain bottom with 12 points but are now just one point behind Dereham Town and Soham Town Rangers and two behind Mildenhall Town and Romford.

MALDON AND TIPTREE gave their play-off hopes another major boost with a 2-1 victory at Basildon United.

Sammie McLeod scored their opener in the 13th minute before Ayrton Coley levelled.

However, Kojo Awotwi popped up with a precious 89th-minute winner for the Jammers, who are third, just two points behind leaders Bowers and Pitsea and Aveley.

Wayne Brown's men are unbeaten in seven league matches, having won six of them.

HEYBRIDGE SWIFTS are also very much in the mix, sitting fifth, after coming from behind to win 2-1 at home to Tilbury.

Thomas Barton put the visitors ahead on the half-hour mark but Harrison Chatting quickly made it all-square and Jordy Mongoy grabbed Swifts' winner on 62 minutes.

It was a third straight victory for Julian Dicks' side.

COGGESHALL TOWN were pegged back and drew 1-1 at Aveley.

Jamie Shaw's 11-minute goal put them ahead in a hard-fought contest, played out in front of 249 supporters at Parkside.

However, Aveley, managed by former Brightlingsea boss James Webster, drew level in the second half through Alexander Akrofi.