Heybridge Swifts 4, Hullbridge Sports 1

Swifts move up to 6th with a convincing win over Hullbridge Sports, although the second half fog made it difficult for players, officials and supporters.

Heybridge saw one change from the last league game away to Grays Athletic - Sam Carter starting in place of the absent Lee Noble. There was a welcome return to the bench of Manny N'Daw - his last game being a substitute appearance in the 1-1 draw at Heybridge in the FA Cup game with Braintree Town.

Hullbridge Sports had a few familiar faces - former Swift Adam Topley had signed for them from Tilbury and they also included Luke Hornsley & Darius Ghinea in their starting line-up (with Joe Gardner named as one of their subs).

The game started evenly and birthday-boy Callum Chafer had to be alert after 12 minutes to tip over a shot from Ghinea. Swifts gradually got into their stride and in the 21st minute, Quba Gordon exchanged passes and went on a marauding run down the right wing, crossing to Ross Wall, who turned and stroked the ball beyond Greene for his seventh goal of the season.

Five minutes later it was 2-0 - Swifts were awarded a free kick on the edge of the right hand side of the penalty area. Kieran Jones appeared to be lining up the free-kick - but he ran over the ball and Darren Phillips (known for his piledriver shots) showed another string-to-his-bow by curling the ball around the wall into the bottom right hand corner for his sixth goal of the season.

Swifts were now rampant and pressed forward with increasing vigour and the third goal came on 36 minutes - Sam Carter picked up the ball and played it to his right to Ben Sartain on the edge of the box - he smashed it beyond Greene for his third goal of the season.

Swifts went close to a fourth in the 44th minute - Quba Gordon escaped his marker and with Greene beaten the ball deflected off the post and was pumped clear by the Hullbridge defence.

HT: Swifts 3-0 Hullbridge

Hullbridge made a double-change after the break with former Swift Joe Gardner joining the action. Rob Harvey went on a great run down the right wing and cut inside unleashing a shot that rebounded off the woodwork.

The fog from the Blackwater had started to roll in during the early part of the second half and Hullbridge keeper Greene fumbled a shot from the edge of the box that went just past the post. Conditions visibility wise were becoming difficult, particuarly with balls coming from in the air and Hullbridge Sports took advantage to score after 54 minutes - which the writer subsequently found out had been scored by Joe Gardner.

Hullbridge started to enjoy their best spell of the match and spectators struggled to see much of the action from one end to the other, many moving around towards the halfway line to gain a better view across the pitch.

Former Swift Adam Topley capped a miserable afternoon when receiving a yellow card after 61 minutes for a late tackle. With Hullbridge showing more of a threat, Swifts needed a fourth to stop any threat of a comeback and Ross Wall went close when his header when narrowly wide after 75 minutes. Five minutes later a corner found Darren Phillips whose header appeared to cross the line (as observed by Swifts fans behind the goal) but the match officials deemed otherwise.

A double change saw Andy Fennell & Jack Adlington-Pile replace Rob Harvey & Rhys Henry with just over ten minutes remaining. Andy Fennell was found clear on the right and he crossed to Ross Wall (after 88 minutes) who controlled the ball before sublimely stroking the ball home to make it 4-1 (pictured by Alan Edmonds).

With four minutes time to be added on, Ross Wall broke clear but was denied his hattrick by Greene who saved with his feet.