Tom Potter saw red on another disappointing day for Romford as a heavy defeat at the hands of Heybridge sent them closer to the foot of the table.

Boro welcomed high-flying Swifts, now managed by former West Ham United legend Julian Dicks, to Rookery Hill without a win in eight matches, since their Essex Senior Cup success at Colchester.

And they had conceded 10 goals in their previous three league matches, following 4-1 losses to Maldon and Brentwood with a 2-0 reverse at bottom club Witham.

Potter picked up a booking on 21 minutes, after which Heybridge’s Matthew Price opened the scoring from the penalty spot.

Paul Martin made two changes before the half-hour mark as Nathaniel Joseph replaced Kurt Smith and Alfie Cleal made way for Reece Hewitt.

And Hewitt hit back four minutes before the break to get the home side on level terms, only for Guillem Ramon-Carreno to restore Heybridge’s lead on the stroke of half time.

Price made it 3-1 with his second goal of the game just past the hour mark, with Potter receiving his marching orders for a second bookable offence 17 minutes from time.

Jack Adlington-Pile added Heybridge’s fourth goal three minutes later and Elliott Ronto rubbed more salt into the wounds with the fifth on 79 minutes.

Witham’s 1-0 win at Canvey lifted them off the bottom of the table and saw Boro drop to 18th, just one point above Soham Town and Dereham.

And they now face an 11-day break before returning to action on Boxing Day to make the short trip to Tilbury, who beat high-flying Aveley 3-0 in their derby on Saturday.

Romford: Aldridge, Nesbitt, Nzengo, Potter, Olukoga, Smith (Joseph 24), Taylor, Toussaint, Reynolds, Bolton (Lemba 72), Cleal (Hewitt 27). Unused subs: Bradford, Daly.

Attendance: 118.