Wivenhoe Tn 1 Arlesey Town 0 A drab match was decided by a scrappy goal as the Blues continued their tame end of season. The win was crucial for the home side as they attempt to overhaul Tilbury and Waltham Forest at the foot of the Ryman League Division

Wivenhoe Tn 1 Arlesey Town 0

A drab match was decided by a scrappy goal as the Blues continued their tame end of season.

The win was crucial for the home side as they attempt to overhaul Tilbury and Waltham Forest at the foot of the Ryman League Division One North.

The Dragons grabbed the three points by virtue of the only goal early in the second half.

This was Arlesey's third successive defeat, with just one goal scored, after a particularly poor match.

The main home threat in the first period came from Woodcock who twice attempted to lob Lee Robinson with both efforts ill directed over the bar, and then finding the side netting from a promising position.

Striker Leon Gutzmore had the visitors' best opportunity from a Lee Tekell free-kick but he attempted a sidefoot shot which went astray.

The winner arrived in the 50th minute and was more from the comic book textbook than the training ground. A shot from Hampson was blocked and despite efforts to clear the ball, bounced off the back of Hibbs' head and over the line.

Wivenhoe's joy was unconfined, but instead of settling the home nerves they became increasingly edgy.

Their keeper came to the rescue by making a fine fingertip save from Gutzmore.

And Arlesey almost spoiled the party when, from a through ball between the defence, Gutzmore was inches from equalising.

Arlesey can still have a big part to play in the survival race as they meet fellow strugglers Tilbury in the final game of the season on April 26.

Blues: Robinson, Waldron, Fowler, Clark, Beevor, Tekell, Young, Beale, Gutzmore, Reynolds, Okojie.

Subs: Brown, King, Chung, Nene, Howard.