BASILDON United maintained their 100 per cent winning record in the Isthmian North by claiming a 2-1 victory over Heybridge Swifts.

Although Joe Gardner gave Swifts the lead at the Ho Ho Stadium, two goals from Eljay Worrell turned the game on its head and the Bees were able to record a sixth successive league win since being promoted from the Essex Senior League.

As a result, Marc Harrison’s side pulled five points clear at the Isthmian North summit.

The first meaningful effort of the evening came from Bees captain Tommy Barton.

After good wing play by Jack Adlington-Pile, Conor Mead headed the ball back across goal. Although the visitors managed to get a toe to the ball, Barton let fly from the edge of the penalty area only to see his volley go high and wide.

However, Swifts took the lead with 12 minutes on the clock as an unchallenged Gardner headed home.

Heybridge then went close to doubling their advantage as Luke Callander’s looping effort beat Basildon goalkeeper Connor Wheatley only to see it strike the crossbar.

Basildon hit back by finding the back of the net through Adlington-Pile, but the goal was ruled out for offside.

Brian Moses then rose highest to meet a dangerous free-kick, but the summer signing – who joined from Redbridge – sent his header over the crossbar 10 minutes before the break.

Darren Phillips should have done better when Heybridge goalkeeper Danny Sambridge’s attempted punch away came his way, but the central defender snatched at the volley and fired off target.

However, Basildon were to go in level at the break thanks to a Worrell spot-kick five minutes before half-time.

Worrell sent his effort from 12 yards into the top corner, giving Sambridge no chance, after referee Luigi Lungarella had spotted pulling following a home free-kick.

Heybridge came close to retaking the lead, 10 minutes after the interval, when they struck the crossbar for a second time.

Callander then dragged his shot wide after turning well as the visitors continued to create the better chances after the interval.

However, Basildon began to create more opportunities as the half progressed and Moses sent an effort over the crossbar, while the striker was unlucky not to find a team-mate with a neat pull-back soon after.

And Basildon were to claim all three points as Worrell found the back of the net for a second time seven minutes before the final whistle.

Basildon United: Wheatley, Mead, Worrell, Kendall, Turpin, Phillips, Adlington-Pile (Burgess 65), Barton, Moses, Spooner, Asamoah (Price-Placid 62)