Dereham suffered their biggest defeat of the season in a match that saw manager Neal Simmons sent off.

The Magpies were stung by a quickfire first-half hat-trick, although they are still top of the table, despite an awful afternoon in Essex.

The hosts made a strong start hitting their front men early and took the lead after just nine minutes when Junior Ogedi-Uzokwe ran through and rounded keeper Elliot Pride before slotting home.

Dereham's claims for a penalty were dismissed minutes later when Owen Murphy was pushed over.

From their next attack Ryan Crisp delivered a precise cross from the left towards Rhys Logan who looked set to net from point blank range but home keeper Dominic Kurasik made a great save.

The Jammers looked dangerous on the break and on 33 minutes Johnville Renee was clumsily brought down in the box with Ogedi-Uzokwe converting the spot-kick. Two minutes later Callum Jones fed Ogedi-Uzikwe again and the striker side-footed home to complete his hat-trick and leave Dereham with a mountain to climb.

Crisp had a header well saved by Kurasik with Jamie Forshaw's follow-up cleared off the line.

The second half commenced with the floodlights to the right of the end Dereham were attacking not working, but the visitors pulled a goal back in the gloom on the hour when Forshaw swept home Logan's cross from the right. Within minutes Ryan Condoh sprinted into the box and restored Maldon's three-goal advantage before sub Kieran Bailey made it five.

Simmons was then dismissed for entering the field of play in an attempt to speak to the referee, who from Dereham's point of view, had lost control of proceedings.

Maldon: Kirasik, Fommaniel, Claridge, Lock, Pollard, Peter (Brown 78), Morgan, Renee (Bailey 65), Ogedi-Uzowkw, Jones, Condoh.

Subs not sued: Bah,Brown, Akloto, Millar.

Dereham: Pride, Castellan, Anema, Hinton, Ebbage (Howell 72), Linford, Logan, Murphy, Crisp, Forshaw, Jarvis. Subs not used: Exley, Kelleher, Bean.

Ref: R Bloy

Att: 78