Home sides took the bragging rights in the Boxing Day local derbies played by north Essex non-league football clubs.

Braintree Town and Heybridge Swifts were those losing out to their nearest rivals as Chelmsford City and Maldon & Tiptree took honours in their respective battles.

It was a Vanarama National League South tussle at Melbourne Park where Braintree had headed to face Chelmsford and it was the Clarets who got one over their fierce rivals.

Braintree headed to the Clarets buoyed by their 3-3 draw against high-flying Havant & Waterlooville last weekend, when a late Rhys Murrell-Williamson free-kick gave them a well-deserved point.

However, it was a different story in the post-Christmas outing.

The opening 40 minutes was a stalemate between the two local rivals, but it was the Clarets who drew first blood as they scored twice in the five minutes before the break with strikes from Robbie Simpson and Chris Whelpdale.

Braintree knew they had it all to do after the interval and a goal from Tyler Christian-Law gave them hope that a comeback may be on the cards in the 50th minute.

It proved a false dawn, though, as the Iron were unable to find an equaliser and when Whelpdale added his second and the Clarets' third, it was clear that the points were staying at Melbourne Park.

And that was rammed home in emphatic fashion when Shaun Jeffers fired home from the penalty spot with five minutes to go as Chelmsford wrapped up a 4-1 win.

The victory took the Clarets above their rivals in the table as they moved up to 11th, while Iron dropped to 14th, having taken just a single point from their last five league games.

Like Chelmsford, Maldon & Tiptree were also celebrating a Boxing Day derby triumph as they beat Heybridge Swifts 2-1 at Park Drive.

This time it came in BetVictor Isthmian League division north, but the Jammers had to come from behind to take the points.

Swifts took the lead in the first half when Odei Martin-Sorondo fired home on 34 minutes, but the Jammers hit back after the break.

First Charlee Hughes brought them level on 75 minutes and just as it looked as though the duo would share a point apiece. Maldon's Hamza Kaid scored in the 90th minute for a dramatic late winner.

The victory kept Maldon top of the table, while Heybridge dropped to fifth, however, two other local clubs were frustrated as Witham Town's trip to Coggeshall Town was postponed on Boxing Day morning.

The West Street pitch was ruled unplayable after an inspection.