The Ryman North action started early on Saturday with a noon kick-off for the derby between Tilbury and Grays. It was the 158th meeting of the neighbours, including a dozen friendlies, and it was Tilbury who came from behind to win 2-1, giving them a 67-62 edge in the series with 29 drawn games.

Grays were out to avenge a 3-1 home defeat in November and, after Alex Read had missed an open goal for the hosts, they took an early lead. Louis Dennis converted a 12th-minute penalty after Joao Carlos was tripped by Paul King.

It became a fairly scrappy affair after that, with Grays seemingly content to sit on their lead. They paid the price in the 72nd minute, when poor defence allowed Joe Nightingill to prod in the equaliser, and Steve Good (ex-AFC Sudbury) fired Dockers ahead seven minutes later. 
James Marrable’s superb point-blank save from Carlos in added time made sure of the points for Tilbury, who climbed into fifth place while Grays remained fourth.

Both, though, were to finish the day below Harlow, who took over fourth spot in the afternoon with a 1-0 win at Maldon. The decisive goal was an 80th-minute Danny Brown penalty.

Red cards played a important part in the battle for the leadership. Leiston beat visiting Heybridge 3-1 to move two points clear, taking command after Dan Foakes was sent off in the first half.

It was 1-1 at the time after Nathan Stone’s sixth-minute opener for the hosts was answered by Chris Bryan’s free-kick in the 23rd minute. The ten men struggled to hang on and were saved three times by the woodwork before Stone made the breakthrough with a 66th-minute header. Michael Brothers (ex-AFC Sudbury) made sure in added time.

Second-placed Enfield had only themselves to blame for losing ground, and were relieved to escape from Potters Bar with a 0-0 draw after playing the whole second half with nine men. Walid Matata – who had hit a post in the first minute – and Mark Kirby were dismissed in the last three minutes of the first half, but the hosts could not reproduce their excellent recent form and failed to profit from the advantage.

Needham Market stay third, nine points behind the leaders, after a 2-2 draw at Soham. Bradley Barber’s free-kick gave Needham an early lead but Andy Funnell headed an equaliser on 33 minutes and then put his side ahead with 14 minutes left.

Lee McGlone headed home to rescue a point with four minutes left, but the best news for the Marketmen was that lethal striker Sam Newson was fit to play a part in the action as a second-half substitute, having been out for more than a month.

Brentwood stayed in the thick of the play-off race with a 1-0 home win over Ware, who slid back to the foot of the table, Steve Butterworth netted the goal after 11 minutes.

AFC Sudbury, too, are right in the hunt after a 4-1 victory at Cheshunt, another game where red cards were all-important. James Baker missed a penalty for Sudbury before Tyrone Scarlett put the hosts ahead after 27 minutes.

They had Jordan Lumsden sent off shortly afterwards and although they held their lead until half-time they were overwhelmed afterwards. Jemel Fox equalised within two minutes of the restart and Baker put AFC Sudbury ahead six minutes later.

Any hope for the Ambers vanished on the hour when they were reduced to nine men. Jimmie Berry was sent off for handball and Baker this time made no mistake from the spot. The lively Daniel Emmanuel added the fourth.

Ware are bottom because Ilford picked up their fourth away point of the week with a 0-0 draw at Great Wakering. An Ilford victory would have lifted them out of the bottom two altogether and plunged Wakering into the relegation zone. Julian Okai twice hit the woodwork for the hosts in the first half but Ilford came more into the game after the break.

Redbridge, who lost at home to Ilford in midweek, suffered another blow to their chances of challenging for a play-off place when they were held to a 1-1 draw by visiting Waltham Abbey. Mitchell Das headed the Motormen into the lead moments before half-time and Ayrton Coley replied with 13 minutes left.

Two early goals paved the way for Romford’s 2-1 home win over Chatham. Wale Odedoyin, back from a spell with Ilford, and Jack Barry put Boro 2-0 up by the 13th minute and that looked likely to be the end of the scoring. Romford’s day was spoiled in added time when Barry was sent off for handling and Lee Hales scored Chatham’s consolation from the spot.