HEYBRIDGE SWIFTS’ players delivered under pressure and secured the win that they needed to safeguard their Ryman League division north status.

The maths were simple for Jody Brown’s team as they knew that a win against Phoenix Sports on the final day of the campaign would mean they couldn’t get dragged back into the bottom three.

And a crowd of 131 were at Scraley Road to see them do just that as they beat Phoenix 2-0 to finish clear of the relegation places.

In the end, Wroxham’s 0-0 draw at Romford meant they were the ones left in the drop zone and Heybridge would have been safe even if they’d lost.

However, their players didn’t know that and they made sure they played their part with a final-day victory to end their season on a positive note.

They had to wait until the 67th minute to get their noses in front, though, with a goal from Lamar Reynolds breaking the deadlock and nerves were further settled five minutes later when George Cole doubled Swifts’ lead.

Any thoughts of a late comeback from Phoenix were dismissed in the 85th minute as the visitors were reduced to ten men by the sending off of Sports’ Joe Matthews as Heybridge eased home.

There was also a positive ending for another division north side who have struggled this year – WITHAM TOWN.

Adam Flint’s team knew they were safe from relegation, but bowed out on a high with a 90th minute goal that capped a 3-2 win against Cheshunt at the Village Glass Stadium.

A first-half spell saw three goals in four minutes, with Scott Kemp’s 20th minute strike for Witham sandwiched between two for Cheshunt as the visitors led 2-1 at half-time.

Nathan Koranteng got Witham back on level terms in the 50th minute and Kemp was on target again in the final minute of the final game to make sure Witham finished with a flourish.

There was also a positive finale to BRIGHTLINGSEA REGENT’S campaign as they ended a run of four games without a win with a 2-0 success at Thamesmead Town.

Strikes from Jake Clowsley and Phil Kelly in the 62nd and 66th minutes saw Regent take the points as they finished the season eighth in the table.

One place and one point better off than Brightlingsea in the final standings were MALDON & TIPTREE, who concluded their campaign with a 1-1 draw at Cray Wanderers.

Having trailed at half-time, the Jammers hit back after the break with an equaliser from Tarryn Allarakhia.