WIVENHOE TOWN are on the brink of promotion after a hard-fought 2-1 victory at home to HALSTEAD TOWN.

The north Essex sides met in a fiercely-contested Thurlow Nunn League first division derby at the Maple Tree Cars Stadium on Friday night.

And after taking the spoils, Wivenhoe, who were relegated last season, need just four more points to be guaranteed a top-three promotion spot.

Boss Mo Osman admitted before the game that it would take a brave betting man not to back his side for promotion, if they beat the Humbugs.

And he got the result he was hoping for thanks to goals from Ray Turner and Luke Goldie-McSorley.

Player assistant-boss Turner put the hosts in front from close range, firing into the roof of the net after a low cross from Adam Hampson.

Halstead, themselves chasing promotion, then levelled from the penalty spot after a push in the area on Joe O’Hare.

Marcus Warren stepped up and fired home beyond goalkeeper Peter Haxell.

With the teams all-square at the break, Wivenhoe’s winner came in the 68th minute.

Goldie-McSorley was their goal-scorer, getting on the end of Joe Heron’s free-kick.

Friday’s win put Wivenhoe 21 points clear of fourth-placed Halstead.

There was another big Thurlow Nunn League derby on Friday night as STANWAY ROVERS made the short trip to BRANTHAM ATHLETIC and drew 1-1.

The much-improved Imps took the lead through Matt Travis.

And although Billy Hunt levelled for Angelo Harrrop’s side, the result – dropping two points – was a blow to Stanway’s chances of gaining promotion to the Ryman League.

The club have their ground grading on Friday but, in order to move up to step four football, they have to overhaul league leaders Norwich United.

Had they won on Friday, they would have moved to just within a single point of the Norfolk side.