MALDON AND Tiptree fell to a disappointing defeat at Dereham Town.

They lost out 3-1 in their Ryman League division one north encounter bringing to an end their recent run of good form.

It was the visitors who took an early lead when, after seven minutes, Cliff Akurang headed home Jack Stevenson’s cross.

The lead, however, didn’t last for long.

Three minutes later, Maldon gave away a free-kick on the edge of their penalty area and Aaron Key stepped up to put his precise kick around the wall and past keeper Lewis Moore’s despairing dive.

The Jammers’ Nathan Koranteng then got in in a dangerous cross that home keeper Andrew Wilton just got his fingertips to the ball to send it over the heads of the onrushing forwards.

Dereham increased their lead on 29 minutes when a good cross from full-back Frazer Blake-Tracy found Ryan Hawkins in the box and beat a couple of defenders before firing home.

The visitors were having a fair share of the game and Yusef Bouamrane, up from the back for a corner, managed to get a shot in that was deflected wide before the home side responded with Kay putting a speculative effort over from all of 30 metres.

Before half time the visitors got in two further attempts on goal but the first saw Tunde Adewunni not getting full contact on a chance.

Akurang came a lot closer when his fine header from Mitch Hunter’s cross was well turned over from under the bar by Wilton.

After the break, the visitors when Simon Glover got in a shot at goal but a home defender just managed to hack the ball clear from the line.

But Dereham then went down the other end to further increase their lead on 58 minutes.

Michael Clunan’s long free-kick from wide on the left travelled all the way to the far post where substitute Matt Hockley found himself unmarked and was able to easily head home.

From that point on the home side were able to dictate most of the play.

With just a few minutes to play the game suffered a 45 minute delay due to an injury suffered by Dereham’s Liam Upton that needed attendance by an ambulance.

Heybridge Swifts secured a 1-1 draw against visiting Thamesmead.

The visitors opened the scoring at Scraley Road when Tyrus Gordon-Young fired home on 15 minutes.

Billy Hunt then came close to an equaliser but his effort was well saved by keeper Rob Budd.

But Heybridge left it late to take a share of the spoils when they were awarded a penalty and Joe Pearman made no mistake from the spot.

Burnham Ramblers were held to a 3-3 draw at Leslie Field by Barkingside.

The home side took the lead in the first minute when Liam Burgess scored from distance.

L’Heureux Menga doubled their lead in the 17th minute.

Steve Carvell pulled a goal back for Barkingside but Burgess restored Burnham’s advantage scoring direct from a corner.

Carvell then pulled another goal back before Mark Twusami headed into his own goal at the death to give the visitors’ a point.