Billericay Town and Canvey Island seal wins, but Concord Rangers and Great Wakering Rovers are defeated

However, Concord Rangers were defeated on the road by Hungerford Town.

In the Isthmian North, Canvey Island beat Mildenhall Town but Great Wakering Rovers lost to Maldon & Tiptree.

Weston-super-Mare 2-3 Billericay Town

Billericay Town bounced back from five consecutive defeats by securing a vital win over National League South strugglers Weston-super-Mare.

Adam Coombes grabbed two goals to continue his fine run of form, while Kieron Cadogan netted his first goal since joining Town from Sutton United on New Year’s Day.

Billericay enjoyed a dream start as Coombes opened the scoring from the penalty spot with just eight minutes on the clock.

However, Town suffered a blow when Callum Kennedy was stretchered off with what appeared to be an ankle injury.

Billericay continued to press after the stoppage and debutant Connor Smith saw his 26th minute effort deflected onto the post before Weston cleared the danger.

And the hosts were to profit as they levelled matters, through Marlon Jackson, two minutes later.

Smith fired wide after good build-up play and Billericay’s pressure told as Coombes completed his brace 10 minutes before the interval.

Moses Emmanuel, who replaced the injured Kennedy, was unable to get his name on the scoresheet after being found in a good position on two occasions before the break.

Alfie Potter cleared a Jennison Myrie-Williams shot off the line seven minutes after the resumption, while Billericay’s Cadogan headed just wide on 58 minutes.

However, Cadogan was to get his goal three minutes later as the winger headed home Smith’s fine pass.

Coombes came agonisingly close to completing his hat-trick as sent a free-kick crashing against the crossbar.

Weston were handed a golden opportunity to get back into the game as they were awarded a 72nd minute penalty, but Gethyn Hill struck the woodwork with his effort from 12 yards.

The hosts were to end the fixture with 10 men as Jake Lee was shown a straight red card for what appeared to be dissent.

A Weston defender’s blushes were spared as he inadvertently hit his own post late on, while Jackson reduced the deficit in the second minute of stoppage time.

But three goals proved to be enough to get Billericay’s promotion hopes back on track.

Hungerford Town 2-1 Concord Rangers

Concord Rangers’ National League South promotion bid stalled as they suffered a narrow defeat to Hungerford Town.

Sam Blackman got his name on the scoresheet once again for the Beach Boys, but the central midfielder’s strike proved not to be enough at Bulpit Lane.

Connor Essam headed a Tosan Popo cross wide of the target when well-placed as Concord got off to an encouraging start.

Essam then passed up another opportunity, while debutant Correy Davidson saw an impressive volley saved.

Despite the Beach Boys’ pressure, the hosts broke the deadlock midway through the first half thanks to Darren Foxley’s wonder strike.

Lee Minshull headed wide before Danny Green clipped the outside of the post as Hungerford held onto their lead going into half-time.

Concord were on the front foot at the start of the second half and Blackman saw his backheel effort go wide before Green was thwarted by Hungerford goalkeeper Michael Luyambula.

But the Beach Boys were back on level terms soon after the hour mark as Blackman poked a Green free-kick into the back of the net.

Concord custodian Sam Beasant needed to be at his best to keep out a fine effort, but there was to be a late sting in the tail.

Foxley tapped home his second goal of the afternoon with less than 10 minutes remaining, leaving the high-flying visitors with little time in which to react.

Essam missed the target with a chance in the dying moments and the hosts were able to celebrate a fine win.

Canvey Island 2-1 Mildenhall Town

Canvey Island were unable to bring an unwanted record of four successive home defeats to an end as they triumphed against Isthmian North strugglers Mildenhall Town.

Adam Vyse was at the double as the Gulls ensured they would begin 2019 with back-to-back wins.

But they were made to come from behind for all three points as Mildenhall went ahead with 25 minutes on the clock at the Frost Hire Stadium.

Canvey goalkeeper Harry Palmer kept out Thomas Debenham’s strike, but Abouhadje Kouassi was quickest to the rebound and found the back of the net.

However, Mark Bentley’s side levelled seven minutes before the break as Vyse sent the goalkeeper the wrong way from the penalty spot after Mildenhall had been penalised for handball.

Josh Hutchinson struck the crossbar twice in quick succession after the break, while Vyse also saw a deflected effort hit the woodwork.

Canvey grabbed what proved to be the winner with 74 minutes on the clock.

Hutchinson and Sam Collins combined before Vyse was on hand to turn Collins’ cross home from close range.

A long range strike from Collins was tipped over the crossbar by Blake Horton late on, but Canvey had done enough to seal the victory.

Great Wakering Rovers 2-4 Maldon & Tiptree

Goals from Jake Gordon and Shomari Barnwell proved not to be enough as Great Wakering Rovers were defeated by Isthmian North promotion challengers Maldon & Tiptree.

Decarrey Sheriff gave the Jammers a 16th minute lead by slamming home from the penalty spot.

Sammie McLeod doubled the away side’s advantage on the half hour mark and the midfielder doubled his tally just two minutes later to give Wakering a mountain to climb.

Gordon gave the reigning Essex Senior League champions hope by getting his name on the scoresheet just 60 seconds later.

And Barnwell cut the deficit to just one goal on the stroke of half-time.

But there was still time for another goal in the action-packed first half as Sheriff joined team-mate McLeod in notching two goals for the afternoon.

Neither side could add to their tally after the interval and Maldon were able to boost their promotion hopes.