LILYWHITES ADD TO ROMFORD SORROW

returned to winning ways courtesy of a 1-0 win over

struggling Romford.

The Lilywhites had the better of the first half with Nicki Dembele and Arel Amu both having good opportunities.

Romford had a good chance to break the deadlock early in the second period when new signing Louie Theophanous went close.

But it was City substitute Nathan Olukanmi who got the winner when he burst through and produced a fine finish to beat Jake Jessup in the visitors’ goal.

Theophanous nearly found an equaliser soon after, but City held on to secure a much-needed victory, with Romford still marooned in the relegation zone.

A 95th-minute Ryan Crisp header stole the points for Dereham Town as the Magpies grabbed a late 2-1 victory at

Canvey Island.

It was the hosts who took the lead soon after the break after Matt Lock’s delivery was knocked back across goal for Rob Lacey to tap home unmarked from close range.

The visitors equalised seven minutes later when Robbie Linford charged down an attempted clearance on the edge of the area. He kept the ball under control and slotted coolly past Rob Budd from 12 yards to score.

Dereham then won the match with the last touch of the game when a freekick into the area was met by a towering header from Crisp to leave the visitors two points from the playoff positions.

Tilbury ended the day in the final play-off position after easing to a 2-0 victory at AFC Sudbury.

The Dockers took the lead 18 minutes in as Ola Ogunwamide netted his fourth league goal of the season, and that’s the way it stayed until the dying stages of the game, when David Knight added a late second.

It was the tale of two penalties as Brentwood

Town and Histon played out a 1-1 draw.

The Blues had an early chance to take the lead when Jacob Wiggins’ lobbed effort rebounded off the post, before Max York converted the first spot-kick of the game for the Stutes.

Temi Babalola then had a number of chances to bring the hosts back level, before he was fouled in the area early in the second half.

The striker picked himself up to convert from 12 yards, and Histon lost ground on the play-off chasers.

Goals were in short supply throughout the division on Saturday, with only two sides managing to find the net more than once.

The search for a goal was ultimately in vain for both

Basildon United

and Coggeshall Town, as neither could break the deadlock in a 0-0 stalemate.

Both sides had a number of chances throughout, with Ayomikun Odukoya going close for the Bees, while James Pellin was kept busy at the other end.

The draw sees the visitors drop out of the play-off positions on goal difference, while the home side move themselves another point away from the drop.

Elsewhere there were 1-0 wins for both Hullbridge Sports at Soham Town

Rangers and Witham Town at home to Grays Athletic.

Joseph Wright’s strike just after the hour mark was enough for Hullbridge, who saw Andre Gumbs sent off in the dying stages for a second booking.

Grays have now gone five games without victory after Oliver Emsden found the net just before the interval for Town.