Heybridge Swifts inflicted leaders’ Harlow Town’s first home defeat of the season.

Despite late pressure Cliff Akurang’s side held on to secure a 3-2 Ryman League division one north victory.

A bright start from the visitors saw Billy Hunt denied at the near post by Harlow keeper Ed Thompson.

However, it was the home side that made the breakthrough when Junior Dadson opened the scoring for a 1-0 lead on six minutes.

But ten minutes later it was all square as Hunt equalised to bring Swifts back into the game.

Marc Gorbell then went close for Harlow as his header was pushed away by Swifts keeper Danny Sambridge.

The score remained the same going into the break but it was Harlow then came out quickly in the second half.

They retook the lead on 47 minutes when Leon Antoine made it 2-1.

Swifts came back strongly and Joe O’Cearuill’s effort was well saved by Thompson.

And on 57 minutes Swifts pulled level again when Jack West made it 2-2.

Swifts then took the lead for the first time in the match when Reece Morgan put them 3-2 ahead on 68 minutes.

Swifts then had the chance to increase the lead when they were awarded a penalty after Thompson brought down West.

However, West hit the post with the spot-kick and Morgan fired over the bar from the rebound.

Harlow then upped their game and put pressure on the visitors.

Alex Read was put through but Sambridge made a flying save to keep their lead intact.

Then a free-kick from Harlow was fisted away by Sambridge and eventually cleared.

In injury-time, Danny Barber was sent off following an altercation with Junior Appiah which saw a melee ensue between both sets of players.

But Swifts’ ten men held on to take all the points.

Maldon and Tiptree were held to a 1-1 draw against visiting Needham Market.

Mitch Hunter put the home side in front on 18 minutes.

And it got worse for the visitors when Oliver Fenn was sent off three minutes later.

But the ten men of Needham fought back and pulled the scores level on 34 minutes through Luke Ingram.

Despite the best efforts of both sides they had to settle for a share of the spoils.

Brightlingsea Regent had a thumping 5-1 win at Cheshunt.

Matt Cripps started the ball rolling on 11 minutes when he headed home from a Ricky Griggs corner.

A left-foot strike from Jordan Heath put them 2-0 up on 30 minutes before Russell Malton fired home from the edge of the area to make it 3-0 five minutes later.

And on 42 minutes it was 4-0 when Ben Newson scored with a good finish.

After the break, Dave Kendall pulled one back for Cheshunt on 68 minutes.

But Malton wrapped up the scoring and the win with his second of the match on 83 minutes.

Burnham Ramblers lost out 1-0 to Chatham Town following an unfortunate own goal from Jack Long on 25 minutes.

In the premier division, Witham Town lost out 2-1 to a late goal against visiting Margate.

On a very wet surface, the visitors took the lead through Tom Phipp on 26 minutes.

On 65 minutes, Evans Kouassi clipped the outside of the post for Witham.

And two minutes later Lewis Godbold pulled the scores level with a long-range strike.

On 73 minutes, Margate went down to ten men when Phipp was sent off for a foul on Tom Wraight.

But it was Margate who secured the win when Ryan Moss scored with a late goal on 90 minutes.