SIX-SHOOTING Heybridge Swifts made progress in the FA Trophy.

They won their FA Trophy preliminary round match 6-3 at Scraley Road against visiting Herne Bay.

Joe Pearman hit a hat-trick in the victory which sets up an away tie in the next round against South Park.

The match was still in the balance in the first-half with both sides countering each other’s efforts.

Swifts took the lead through Pearman on 21 minutes.

However, the celebrations had hardly died down when the visitors hit back a minute later through Stuart King.

But Pearman restored Swifts lead on 27 minutes.

However, the home side were unable to hold on to their advantage as Herne Bay equalised from the penalty spot two minutes later when King fired home a penalty.

But on the stroke of half-time Neil Richmond put the home side back in front with a well-taken effort.

Pearman then completed his hat-trick on 60 minutes to double Swifts’ advantage.

Daniel Johnson kept the visitors in the game with a goal on 81 minutes to make it 4-3.

However, Billy Hunt put Swifts further ahead a minute later before he wrapped the game up with a second strike on 84 minutes.

Maldon and Tiptree made their exit from the FA Trophy at the preliminary round stage.

They lost out 3-0 at Hythe Town.

The home side were quickly on the attack and Maldon keeper Jack Giddens was called on to make a full-length diving save from Laurence Harvey.

However, Town broke the deadlock just before half-time when Phil Stevenson scored from the penalty spot after Jordan Wells had been tripped in the box.

On 63 minutes, Town went further ahead as Josh Burchell found Ashley Miller who made no mistake to make it 2-0.

And the home side made sure of their passage to the next round on 86 minutes when Wells tapped in from close range.

Brightlingsea Regent made progress to the next round at the expense of Burnham Ramblers at Leslie Field with a 5-1 win.

The home side made a slow start and Regent took advantage when Phil Kelly opened the scoring on seven minutes with a header from set play.

Michael Brothers doubled their advantahe on 32 minutes.

After the break Brightlingsea continued to have upper hand.

On 49 minutes, Russell Malton fired home to make it 3-0.

The visitors then put the match out of sight when Ben Newson and Jake Holman made it 5-0 with goals on 72 and 85 minutes respectively.

Bradley Nobbs added a late consolation for the home side on 88 minutes.

In the Ryman Premier, Witham Town were involved in a six-goal thriller at Peacehaven and Telscombe.

Town returned with a point after being held to a 3-3 draw.

The visitors opened the scoring when James Robinson fired in following a goal-mouth scramble on 11 minutes.

Robinson then doubled his and Witham’s tally when he added a second just before the half-hour mark.

But the home side came back into the match in the second half.

James Fraser pulled a goal back for the home side six minutes after the restart.

But Witham restored their two-goal advantage when John Watson got on the end of a good cross.

However, that advantage didn’t last long as Peacehaven scored again within a minute when Josh Jones found the back of the net.

And they found the equaliser just on the hour when Tommy Fraser popped up to score.