Wivenhoe Town extended their unbeaten run to five with a Ryman League division two 1-1 draw at Barking.

On a heavy pitch Wivenhoe had the better of the opening 20 minutes but from then on the home side gained the upper hand. Barking took a deserved lead midway through the second half and went forward in numbers and Wivenhoe looked dead and buried.

But five minutes from time Dan Roberts' cross was met by Gary Hudson, and although the keeper made a good save, Hudson smashed in the rebound.

Co-manager Steve Pitt said: "I am happy given that we managed to keep our unbeaten run going. Last season we would have have laid down and died but we came back well."

Halstead sucker Sudbury

In the Jewson League, Mark Farmer scored two for Halstead after a four week lay-off in their clash with high-flying Sudbury.

An impresive performance sent Sudbury to their first defeat in 17 games.

Halstead defended well and shocked the home side by taking the lead on 22 minutes through Farmer who rounded the keeper to tap home.

Sudbury hit back through Brain Deveraux three minutes from the break.

But Halstead took the lead again through Farmer.

The visitors went further in front when Richard Schultz hit a bullet header from a Betson cross.

With 13 minutes to go the home side reduced the arrears with another from Deveraux.

Manager Sean Bailey was full of praise for his players: "They did really well. We need to keep this going. Farmer played well on his return. And new keeper Keith Tucker, standing in for Dave Schultz, kept us in the game with some great saves."

Maldon meet their match

Maldon's good run came to an end with a Jekyll and Hyde performance at Park Drive.

Visiting Stowmarket scored three unanswered second half goals to take the match.

But it was Maldon who took the lead in the first half through Tommy Noble with a well-worked goal at the near post.

Noble had a chance to make it 2-0 but put the ball over the bar from six yards out, which would have sealed the game.

In the second half Noble and Danny Stanley both had chances to score but it was the visitors who hit an equaliser after ten minutes.

Another followed midway through the half, and with Maldon pushing forward Stowmarket secured the game with a third. goal.

Manager Ben Embery said: "We had the better of the first half and should have won it then. Complacency set in in the second half and we just tailed off."

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