There really can be no contest when it comes to handing out the performance of the day award among the north Essex sides in the BetVictor Isthmian League division north.

Out of the four north Essex clubs involved in league action, there were three defeats and one draw, so it was left to a side who weren’t actually playing in the league to take the top display honours.

That team were Maldon & Tiptree and 13 proved anything but unlucky for Wayne Brown’s team as they made club history in the third qualifying round of the FA Cup.

The Jammers have now won their first 13 games of the season and they did it in style as they got into the fourth qualifying round for the first time as they beat Chertsey Town 6-1 at Park Drive.

Maldon are leading Isthmian League division north and proved too hot for their division south central visitors to handle.

Goals from Charley Hughes and Jorome Slew put the Jammers 2-0 up at half-time, with Hughes adding two more after the break to complete his hat-trick and open a four-goal advantage.

Chertsey did get one back with ten minutes remaining, but it was just a consolation and with Slew and Laste Dombaxe adding to Maldon’s tally, it was a good day all round.

They will now be keeping a close eye on Monday’s fourth qualifying round draw, there was further joy for Maldon as they also held on to their position at the summit of Isthmian League division north as both the second and third-placed teams lost.

Dropping out of the top five were Coggeshall Town as a 2-0 home defeat by Dereham Town saw the Seedgrowers move down to sixth.

Witham Town were another side dropping in division north and they fell to 16th after a 2-1 defeat by Aveley at the Simarco Stadium.

The hosts trailed by two, before an excellent finish from George Bugg gave Witham hope, but they could not find a second as they dropped four places in the table.

However, Heybridge Swifts did stay put, holding on to fifth spot as an equalising goal from Elliott Ronto cancelled out a Kris Newby opener in a 1-1 draw at Basildon United.

In the premier division, Brightlingsea Regent were unable to close out a tough week with a positive result as they lost 3-2 at Folkestone Invicta.

The R’s had seen manager Tom Rothery depart at the start of the week and that was followed by a 2-0 defeat by Enfield Town on Tuesday so they were hoping for better fortune at Folkestone.

However, despite Romario Dunne cancelling out a 20th minute opener for the Kent side and Billy Hunt then scoring a late penalty to give them hope, Regent were beaten 3-2.

The loss saw Brightlingsea drop into the bottom three in the table.