Rhys Henry (ex-AFC Sudbury), who left Harlow Town for Leiston in October, did much of the damage as the Ryman League Division One North leaders visited his old club on Saturday and powered to a 3-0 win to stay two points clear at the top.

Henry’s free-kick gave Leiston an 18th-minute lead and a red card for Ryan Kirby on the hour made it tougher for the Hawks. Nathan Stone scored Leiston’s second three minutes later and Henry struck again ten minutes from time. It finished ten-a-side after Leiston’s Neil Calver (ex-AFC Sudbury) was sent off in the closing stages.

Enfield Town maintained their pursuit with a 2-1 home win over lowly Great Wakering, who gave them a fright with a first-minute goal from Teddy Nesbitt. Wakering held their lead until the fifth minute of the second half, when Walid Matata scored from close range, and Nathan Fletcher provided the winner when he sliced the ball into his own net with six minutes left, a mishap which helped to leave Wakering in the relegation zone.

Third-placed Needham Market welcomed star striker Sam Newson back to their starting line-up for the first time in almost two months and celebrated with a 7-0 thrashing of Cheshunt, though Newson was not among the seven different scorers. Lee McGlone started the rout on 13 minutes and Josh Kisby’s own goal made it 2-0 shortly afterwards.

It was 6-0 by half-time as Duane Wright, Danny Bloomfield (ex-AFC Sudbury), James Evans and Danny Thrower found the net at regular intervals. The Marketmen eased up after the break and settled for one more goal, from Deakan Napier in the 83rd minute. 
Needham are seven points behind Enfield but strengthened their position considerably as none of the the six teams behind them managed to win.

That enabled Harlow to retain fourth place and Grays stayed fifth even though their poor form continued with a 1-0 home defeat by Maldon. Jack Stevenson’s goal after 26 minutes was enough for Maldon as Grays once again failed to turn pressure into goals, though Danny Bunce hit the woodwork twice near the end.

Tilbury are level on points with Grays after snatching a last-gasp draw at Waltham Abbey. Dan Harvey’s volley broke the deadlock eight minutes after half-time but Tilbury replied with a Sam West penalty midway through the half. He missed another spot-kick soon afterwards and it looked to be a costly error when Harvey put the Abbotts in front again two minutes from time, only for Ben Crooks to find the net at the death and make it 2-2.

Brentwood went into their game at Heybridge boasting the best defensive record in the division, a crown they retained even though it was tarnished by a 4-0 defeat. Two goals in as many minutes by Luke Callander just before the half-hour put Swifts on top and they clinched it with two penalties in the last ten minutes. Unusually, they were converted by two different players against two different goalkeepers. Chris Bryan fired the first past Elliott Justham, who was sent off when he conceded the second spot-kick. Midfielder Steve Butterworth took over the jersey and was beaten by Jack West.

AFC Sudbury were victims of a smash-and-grab raid by visiting Waltham Forest, who came from behind to win 2-1. James Baker headed AFC Sudbury into the lead six minutes before half-time but Adian Retkoceri squared it three minutes after the break.

It was nearly all AFC Sudbury after that but it was Forest who netted the decisive goal in the 65th minute, Manu Dagher picking up the pieces after Peggy Lokando’s shot was parried by Danny Gay.

Potters Bar grabbed a 2-2 draw with a strong finish at Chatham. The visitors had some chances in the first half but fell behind to a Lee Hales goal two minutes before the break. Jason Barton headed home a corner to make it 2-0 on 70 minutes but James Gershfield’s 86th-minute penalty gave the Scholars new hope and Josh Urquhart levelled it in added time.

Redbridge avenged a recent home defeat by Ilford with a 2-1 win at Cricklefield, sending their local rivals back to the foot of the table. Ilford threatened to do it again when Rob Carter scored after seven minutes, but they had to play with ten men for the last 40 minutes after Raffael Kaphouris was sent off. Ryan Wade equalised with a penalty on the hour and Ryan Murray headed the winner ten minutes later.

Ilford are back on the bottom after Ware debutant Lewis Jones scored a late winner against Romford, a result which lifted Ware out of the bottom two altogether as they also climbed above Great Wakering on goal difference.

A straight red card for skipper Paul Clayton after 16 minutes left Romford in trouble but they held out until Jones, on loan from Wingate, netted a close-range strike in the 88th minute. Jamie Dicks was sent off before the end as Romford finished with nine men.

A second-minute goal by Lea Dawson set Thamesmead on their way to a 4-0 win over Soham, though the scoreline was harsh on the visitors who had plenty of the game without finding their finishing touch. A goalkeeping error allowed Joseph Afusi to put the hosts two up on 38 minutes and Danny Kerrigan added another two minutes later. Soham’s attempts to hit back came to nothing and Afusi hammered his second in the last minute.