Heybridge Swifts 2, East Thurrock United 0

IT'S been 11 years since Swifts and the Rocks vistors met competitively and for much of this Isthmian North clash it was difficult to see who would take the long-awaited bragging rights between Essex rivals.

In the end, thanks to two goals in the closing quarter of the match it was Swifts who took the honours.

They are now elevated, albeit after just three matches, into the play-off bracket, while the Rocks are struggling at the wrong end of the table and have yet to pick up a point.

Three league defeats in succession is not the start Rocks manager Marc Harrison envisaged for his side and he will be desperate to make amends in Monday's derby against Tilbury. Not only will he and co-manager Liam Wallace feel they have a point to prove against their former club, spice is added to the derby by the fact that the Dockers are now managed by John Coventry - who had 13 largely successful years in charge at Rookery Hill.

In a match today of little quality that will not last long in the memory the sides were well-matched but the deadlock was broken on 75 minutes when Ben Sartain scored.

And just four minutes later the in-form Andy Fennell grabbed another goal to seal the victory.