Heybridge Swifts remain in a Ryman North relegation battle, after suffering a 3-0 defeat at Aveley on Saturday.

There was free entry to Mill Field for what was Aveley’s penultimate home match at the ground, and the last Saturday fixture – they are moving to a new stadium (Belhus) next season – which resulted in a bumper crowd of 303.

But a very young Swifts side could not rise to the occasion, as they conceded goals either side of half-time through Hussein Jaffa (45) and Michael Toner (47). Mason Bloomfield added a third just after the hour mark to secure a comfortable home victory.

Youngsters Amar Lewis and Louis Yuill both made their senior debuts for the Swifts.

Jody Brown’s men had begun the day five points clear of the bottom three, but that deficit has been cut to just two following third-from-bottom Ware’s 1-0 home win over Great Wakering Rovers.

The Swifts have three games left, and will perhaps need to win at least one of them to stay up. They are on the road again for their next two games, at Norwich United and Maldon & Tiptree, before entertaining Phoenix Sports in the final day

At the other end of the table, Maldon & Tiptree’s failure to beat Dereham at Park Drive enabled Brightlingsea Regent to wrap up the title, and so automatic promotion to the Ryman Premier.

The Jammers were trailing 1-0 at the break, through Daniel Beaumont (13 minutes), although the hosts had their chances with Liam Nash rattling a post with an early free-kick. Nash also missed from close-in before the deadlock was broken. Joe Gatting volleyed home Dereham’s second on 52 minutes, but Kevin Horlock’s men came storming back.

Montel Agyemang halved the deficit with a header from Nash’s cross on 72 minutes, and Nash was again the creator for the equaliser, which came via Sam Newson’s neat lob in the 83rd minute.

Newson squandered a good chance to win it near the end.

Meanwhile, Chelmsford City virtually ensured their National League South play-off place with a 3-0 home win over promotion rivals Poole Town at Melbourne Park.

Louie Theophanous poked home the opener from Chris Dickson’s knock-down, before substitute Shaun Jeffers netted a late double to cement the Clarets’ third spot.