Heybridge Swifts boss Jody Brown hopes his side’s much-improved defensive form could give them the edge in their fight to avoid relegation.

The Scraley Road club are involved in a scrap to avoid the drop from the Ryman League north division, currently sitting 21st.

They are only three points ahead of third-from-bottom Waltham Abbey, who stunned leaders AFC Sudbury on Saturday, but just a point behind the two sides directly above, Wroxham and Witham.

It means a tense end to the season is on the cards.

However, Brown is hoping his side’s more resilient defence could tip the scales in their favour.

They have only conceded four goals in their last eight league and cup games, including a 2-1 victory at home to Bury Town on Saturday.

“When I first came in, the club had just conceded 16 goals in five games,” said Brown, whose side entertain Haringey Borough on Saturday.

“So the pleasing thing is that we’ve really turned it around defensively.

“It was something that had to be addressed and it’s something we’ve spent a lot of time on, as a group, to improve.

“Earlier in the season we were losing those tight games by not defending properly.

“But we’ve worked hard to improve, as a team and by defending from the front.

“I’d still like to see us be a bit more clinical in front of goal and feel our overall play deserves more goals.

“But by being tighter in matches we’re always giving ourselves a better chance.”

Swifts took the lead in the 31st minute of Saturday’s game, thanks to George Cole.

Bury’s Connor Hall then equalised from the penalty spot just before the break, but the hosts hit back again in the second half.

In front of a crowd of 132, Brown’s team gave the home fans something else to cheer about as Philip Anderson hit their winner in the 68th minute. It was a crucial goal as the relegation fight was intensified by Waltham Abbey’s 2-0 win at leaders Sudbury.

Wroxham then won 1-0 at Brightlingsea Regent on Bank Holiday Monday.

“It was a vital win and really good performance, which was just as important,” added Brown.

“The first half was as well as we’ve played for a long while.

“Bury didn’t know what had hit them and we created chance after chance - and they were clear-cut chances, too.

“We carved them open and it was just a shame we went in at 1-1.

“Our performance deserved more but we’d been wasteful in front of goal, which has been a problem ever since I’ve been here.

“Thankfully we went on to get a winner in the second half.”