HEYBRIDGE SWIFTS cemented their play-off place with a comfortable 3-0 home win over Aveley in a Bostik North clash at Scraley Road tonight.

The Swifts, wading through a huge backlog of fixtures, secured their third victory on the bounce following a 1-0 win at Cheshunt and then a 4-1 home win over high-flying Canvey Island.

Jody Brown’s men are now three points clear of near-neighbours and closest rivals Maldon & Tiptree in sixth slot, the last play-off berth, and they still have two games in hand.

The Swifts were 1-0 up at half-time against Aveley, who are managed by former Brightingsea Regent boss James Webster.

Striker Luke Callander broke the deadlock in the 20th minute, before a quickfire brace from Juan Luque in the 55th and 58th minutes wrapped up a comprehensive win for the Swifts, in front of a crowd of 235.

HEYBRIDGE: Jessup, Ramon, Cawley, Abdulla, Henshaw, Baker, Chatting (sub Godbold, 70), Griffiths, Callander (sub Ashford, 75), Krasniqi, Luque (sub Stevenson, 78).

Elsewhere tonight, BRIGHTLINGSEA REGENT held Bostik Premier leaders and promotion favourites Billericay Town to a 1-1 draw at North Road.

Big-spending Billericay had the better of the first-half chances, with Butcher twice going close and Hughes also nearly scoring.

But the inspirational R’s went ahead on the 48th minute, when Matt Cripps’ volley from a corner was turned in by the alert Billy Hunt.

However, Tom Rothery’s men could not hold on and when they gave away a soft penalty in the 77th minute, striker Billy Bricknell was on hand to convert the spot kick and so secure a draw to stretch Billericay’s lead at the top to three points.

BRIGHTLINGSEA: Bradbrook, Keys, Gould, Turner, Gould, Cripps, Amass, Griggs (sub Love, 90), Hunt, Condon (sub McDonald 82), Clowsley.

Meanwhile, MILDENHALL TOWN shared a goalless draw against Norwich United at Recreation Way. Mildenhall stay 17th in the Bostik North, while their Norfolk visitors have moved up a spot to third-from-bottom.