Brentwood Town held on to gain another three points on the road, with a 2-1 victory against Maldon and Tiptree.
Sherwin Stanley’s scored in the first half from the spot after Shad Ngandu was brought down. Stanley got his second early in the second half from a close range strike but Maldon struck straight back as substitute Alex Andrews shot slotted in just inside the box.
Shad Ngandu was put through by a great ball from Jack Gardner 20 minutes in, but was brought down by Gavin Greenfield and the referee had no choice but to point to the spot.
Sherwin Stanley stepped up and after a long pause slotted his spot kick into the right corner as Darren Behcet dived the wrong way.
A ball in by Gardner was not dealt with by the Maldon defence and Dafter won the second ball which was volleyed in by Ngandu but was disallowed for offside.
Maldon had a chance just before the break as Nathan Koranteng got away from his man and hit a shot from 25 yards which fizzed over the bar.
Brentwood almost extended their lead, after great counter attacking play put Alex Akrofi in down the right flank hit low cross which was half cleared but Stanley’s shot was well held by Behcet.
Tunde Adewunni has a snap shot inside the box which almost caught Bowles unaware but quickly sorted his feet out to hold on to the shot.
Brentwood extended their lead with a second seven minutes into the second half as Akrofi beat Phil Anderson down the left flank cut inside and Stanley nicked the ball off Akrofi to fire in.
Maldon responded from the restart as Adewunni long ball to the far post was cut back across goal to the edge of the box, to be slotted in by substitute Alex Andrews.
Substitute Robbie Rees had strike on the edge of the box after a short corner which stung the hands of Behcet and out for a corner.
In added time Akrofi was in on goal as substitute Tom Richardson put him in but as he went round the keeper the ball was plucked off Akrofi by the Maldon keeper, as Brentwood brought home three points to maintain their playoff push.
Maldon Lineup: Darren Behcet, Danny Hayes, Mitchell Hunter, Ruddock Yala, Gavin Greenfield, Phil Anderson, Theo Jones (51), Matt Guler, Jonathon Nzengo (84), Tunde Adewunni, Nathan Koranteng
Substitutes: Matt Pooley, Alex Andrews (51), Alberto Pinto, Jordan Jackson (84), Harry Palmer
Brentwood Town Lineup: Ollie Bowles, Jack Gardner, Louis Baucutt, Martyn Stokes ©, Ryan O’Rawe, James Love, Danny Dafter (74), Shad Ngandu, Sam Bantick (71), Sherwin Stanley (78), Alex Akrofi
Substitutes: Christian Mbulu, Tom Richardson (78), Robbie Rees (71), Daryl Robson (74), Michael Osei
Attendance: 71