Waltham Abbey remain in the playoff race in the Bostik League South Central Division despite a thumping 3-0 home loss to mid-table Chipstead.

The game was goalless at the break but plenty of chances were created by both sides in the first half – Tayo Oyebola came closest for the visitors while Abbey were thwarted by some resolute defending.

The game got its opening goal on the hour mark when Sam Clayton delivered a free-kick towards Sam Page, who flicked the ball towards Jacob Sewell which ended up in the back of the net, officially going down as an own goal.

Abbey were still being frustrated every time they went forward and they found further frustration at the back their goalkeeper was dismissed for a reckless challenge outside the box, and the substitute keeper’s first job was to pick the ball out of the net as Clayton curled in Chipstead’s second.

Minutes later, the game was put beyond doubt as Oyebola added the visitors’ third to seal a bad day at the office for Abbey.

West Essex claimed a late winner in the only game across both divisions of the Essex Senior League to go ahead, as Joe Lefley’s 89th minute strike secured a 3-2 win over Saffron Walden Town.

The win moves West Essex into the top half of the table, level on points with Sawbridgeworth Town and now only four points behind Hoddesdon Town.

Hakim Medafi needed just two minutes to get the ball rolling at Caton Lane, but Charlie Portway soon had the hosts level from the penalty spot on 21 minutes.

Symeon Taylor restored the visitors’ lead before the break and it looked like they would hold onto that one goal lead throughout the entire second half until Portway added his second of the afternoon to equalise.

A point apiece looked likely going into the final few minutes, but that was until West were awarded a free-kick 20-yards out, and Lefley stepped up to curl it beautifully just out of the keeper’s grasp.

That wasn’t the final action, though, as Walden were given a chance to rescue a point when they were awarded another penalty for a foul by goalkeeper Jack Coker, but he atoned for his error by saving Portway’s kick and confirming three big points for West.

Finally, Epping Town couldn’t continue the form that saw them hit 11 goals in their last match as they fell t0 a 2-1 defeat against struggling Leigh Ramblers Reserves in Division Four of the Essex Olympian League.

Ben Munday’s brace moved the Ramblers off the bottom of the table, two points ahead of Old Barkabbeyans, who slipped to the bottom having not played over the weekend, while Epping lost ground on the top two in the division and are now five points behind second-placed Dagenham United.