A Michael Mignot hat-trick helped see West Essex to an entertaining win over Hullbridge Sports at Lower Road as their charge for the top six continued.
The hosts had the first chance of the game in the very first minute when Adebayo Sotoyinbo got in down the right hand side, but his effort was dragged across goal and wide, and the visitors first chance came in the 12th minute when Macleod almost scored but his toe poke was eventually dealt with by Bridge keeper Jamie Merrells.
And in the 27th minute West Essex went close again when a header back into the mix by Michael Mignot was headed just over the bar by a defender, whilst down the other end two minutes later the hosts went even closer when Charlie Buffin let fly from range and saw keeper Dan Russell tip onto the bar.
But in the 31st minute came the breakthrough, and it came from the visitors, as Mignot got clear down the left before producing a wonderful effort beyond Merrells and the away side had the advantage.
Three minutes later Luke Hornsley found himself in for the hosts, but saw Russell save his effort, and then moments later down the other end Mignot had an effort well saved by Merrells.
However in the 36th minute it was two for the visitors as Mignot got through again and slotted past Merrells and then four minutes before half time West Essex full back Ben Leo flashed a ball across goal but saw it fly away for a goal kick, and then moments later Mignot again was thwarted by Merrells.
But a minute before half time there was nothing Merrells could do to keep out a terrific strike from Joe Lefley, firing into the far corner, to give the visitors a commanding lead at the break.
Half Time Hullbridge Sports 0 West Essex 3
Sports knew they needed a quick goal to get back into the contest, and less than a minute after the restart won a penalty after Hornsley had been brought down inside the area, and Sotoyinbo converted the spot kick and the hosts had a lifeline.
Sotoyinbo had another chance soon after, but his effort was well blocked, but the hosts had certainly come out firing, but they then had the wind taken out of their sails as West Essex made it four when Mignot saw an effort go in off a defender to complete his hat-trick and restore the visitors three goal cushion.
Sports brought on Eamon Payne and he thought he was in the clear in the 59th minute but the ball ran away from him although the hosts claimed he had been impeded in the build up, but two minutes later they did pull a goal back when skipper Conor Mead sent a free kick into the box from halfway but saw it float over keeper Russell and into the net for a remarkable goal.
However any thoughts of a comeback were flattened with eight minutes remaining as substitute Josh French sent a downward header beyond Merrells to seal this one.
The visitors somehow failed to net a sixth three minutes later when Bradley Russell saw an effort cleared off the line by Perry Dunn, only for the ball to be returned by Russell but then see Dunn clear off the line again via the post, it was an extraordinary moment, but it was the final chance of an entertaining encounter which saw the visitors close the gap to Clapton in sixth to four points with three games in hand.
As for Hullbridge well they remain in 15th but in all honesty should be safe from relegation now as the sides in the bottom four can barely catch them now.
Full Time Hullbridge Sports 2 West Essex 5
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