Heybridge Swifts claimed three points when they won 1-0 at Waltham Abbey.
The win sees Swifts close to with four points of the top spot in Ryman League division one north.
There were few chances in the first half for either side.
Michael Cheek went close on 39 minutes but it was wide of the target.
However, Swifts grabbed the vital goal a minute later when Cheek headed home from a Terence Amass corner.
The second half was more entertaining with Abbey coming close to breaking through on 49 minutes but keeper Danny Sambridge claimed the loose ball.
Waltham had Sambridge beaten on 54 minutes but not the woodwork as a shot from Joe Pearman crashed against the bar and rebounded to safety.
But Heybridge hung on to claim the win and keep their title challenge on track.
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