THE hard work of Heybridge Swifts' ground staff and fans was richly repaid by their players as they claimed a valuable Bostik League division north victory.

While the snow brought by the wintery weather denied Witham Town a home game against Romford and Maldon and Tiptree a trip to Tilbury, Swifts did manage to get action to a prevent further backlog being added to their already hectic schedule.

It was the hard work by staff and supporters that got snow cleared off the Aspen Waite Arena pitch that allowed the game to go ahead and Swifts took full advantage by taking a three-point haul against visiting Cheshunt.

They got on the front foot in the first half when Matthew Price struck in the 21st and 44th minutes to put the home side 2-0 up at the break and provide a warm glow for the home fans among the crowd of 203 who braved the sub-zero conditions.

Swifts' position was further strengthened after the break when Cheshunt were reduced in numbers, first by the sending off of Jeramie Agholor on 63 minutes and then the dismissal of Nick Symons on 68 minutes.

Now facing nine men, Swifts looked to go further ahead from a penalty, but Luke Callander was unable to convert to kill the game off.

And the home fans among the 203 watching faced a nervous final period as Amadou Kassarate got the visitors back into the game with an 81st minute strike to halve the deficit.

However, heart rates were returned to normal three minutes from time when Jack Cawley scored a third for Heybridge to make sure the full points quota would be staying with the hosts.

The win completed a productive few days for Heybridge, who had gone into the game on the back of an excellent 2-1 success against neighbours Witham Town at the Aspen Waite Arena on Thursday night.

Witham made a dream start after scoring in the first minute, though John Watson.

However, Price scored either side of the break, in the 36th and 52nd minutes, to secure maximum points for Swifts, in front of a crowd of nearly 250.

Another side to beat the chilly weekend weather was Brightlingsea Regent, who continued their resurgence with an important 2-1 success at Bostik League premier division basement boys Burgess Hill Town.

Their win at the Green Elephant Stadium continued a positive week for Tom Rothery’s R’s.

Having lost five in a row, they showed their resolve by twice coming from behind in last week’s 2-2 draw against title-chasing Dulwich Hamlet.

They then put nine goals past Springfield in midweek to secure their place in the Tolleshunt D’Arcy Memorial Cup final and Saturday’s win has now hoisted them 14 points clear of Burgess Hill.

And with only one side falling through the relegation trapdoor this season, they now look to have done enough to ensure another season of step three football.

Aaron Condon gave Regent the early advantage at Burgess Hill when he gave them the lead in the eighth minute.

They held on to that until half-time and moved further clear when Jake Turner struck in the 71st minute, so even though James Richmond did get on the scoresheet for the hosts, there was no denying Brightlingsea an important win.

Brightlingsea are without a midweek fixture but will discover their opponents in the Tolleshunt D’Arcy Memorial Cup final on Wednesday, when Wivenhoe Town and FC Clacton meet at the GMP Plant Hire Stadium.