Remember Jimmy Glass, the goalkeeper who scored in the last minute of the season to save Carlisle's Football League place 12 years ago? The circumstances were not quite as dramatic, but Ilford goalie Rob Budd may have earned a place in his club's folklore after netting the only goal of their home game against Potters Bar on Saturday. Budd’s free-kick from his own penalty area in the 75th minute beat his opposite number Matt Bennett and gave his side a five-point cushion in the Ryman North relegation battle.
Leaders Leiston suffered their first defeat since October 26 when they were beaten 3-1 at Tilbury, a result that gave a huge boost to Tilbury’s play-off challenge. Neil Calver’s foul on Emile Aiken in the 27th minute earned him a booking and allowed Alex Read to fire Dockers ahead from the spot, making himself the division’s top scorer with 22 league goals in the process. The offence proved doubly costly for Leiston when Calver was booked again shortly before the interval, leaving his side to play the whole second half with ten men. Nevertheless, they drew level on the hour when a shot by Michael Brothers eluded the grasp of home keeper James Marrable. Jack West restored Dockers’ lead in the 80th minute, his first goal since his return from Heybridge, and as Leiston threw men forward in added time Read broke away unchallenged to clinch a well-deserved victory.
Enfield Town closed the gap at the top to five points with a 1-0 victory at third-placed Needham Market. Veteran Bryan Hammatt, who had already hit the bar, netted his first goal of the season eight minutes after half-time. Needham, who have looked secure in the top three for much of the season, travel to Leiston on Monday knowing that another defeat could see them caught by both Grays and Tilbury, who are both three points behind them.
A fierce shot by Lee Flynn in the 75th minute enabled Grays to stay in fourth place with a 1-1 home draw against Chatham, who had taken a surprise lead when Lloyd Blackman chipped the ball over stranded keeper Tony Tucker in the 56th minute.
Sudbury moved into sixth place, four points adrift, by beating and overtaking Harlow. Their 1-0 win in Essex owed much to keeper Danny Gay and was secured by Russell Pond’s 35th-minute goal.
Redbridge kept their hopes alive with a 2-1 home win over Great Wakering. Joe Gardner put the Motormen ahead on the half-hour but Michael Toner missed a penalty just before the break and Wakering drew level on the hour through Jay Nash. James Robinson hit the winner ten minutes later, a major blow to Wakering and their player-manager Dan Trenkel, who was part of the Redbridge side that enjoyed that remarkable FA Cup run earlier in the season. Thanks to Budd, Wakering were left five points behind Ilford and only one ahead of bottom club Ware, who kept their remote survival hopes alive with a 2-1 victory at Thamesmead. Two goals in the first eight minutes of the second half, a Jordan Gill penalty and a Lewis Rolfe shot, did the trick although James Donovan’s header reduced the arrears on 70 minutes and Rolfe was sent off near the end.
Ryan Wade, back at Cheshunt after a spell with Redbridge, scored twice in their 3-1 home win over Romford. His goals came after 31 and 47 minutes, and an own goal by Matt Toms midway through the second half wrapped up the points. Joe Oates netted a late Boro consolation.
Maldon chalked up their third successive win and continued their climb towards the top half of the table, netting three unanswered goals at home to Waltham Forest. Joe Pearman opened the scoring on the hour, Ross Wall added a second and Leon Antoine wrapped it up at the end.
An 88th-minute goal by Neil Andrews gave Soham a 1-1 home draw with Heybridge, who had gone ahead in the 63rd minute through Tyler Corlett. The result was the same at Waltham Abbey, where Steve Cawley’s penalty gave the hosts a 14th-minute lead and Brentwood replied on the stroke of half-time through Lee Blackburn.

Ryman League