WALTHAM Abbey gave their promotion chances a shot in the arm with an away win at local rivals Leyton.

The Abbotts thwarted the Lilywhites' impressive unbeaten home record stretching back to the middle of December thanks to an outstanding performance from captain Lee White and a brace of goals from Marc Sontag.

The first half an hour was well-contested, but it was the visitors who gained the breakthrough, thanks in part to a helping hand from the referee.

The ball cannoned off the official, enabling Abbey to regain control and release Aaron Fayle down the right. His cross found striker Billy Holland, and he laid on the on-rushing Sontag, who planted his shot into the far corner of the net.

Holland was then guilty of a bad miss when he somehow managed to sky his volley from two yards out before half-time.

But midway through the second period, Abbey were two in front. Defender White found himself in an advanced position after a free kick, and he delivered a clever ball across the face of goal. Holland got the shout from Sontag to leave it, taking keeper Elliot Justham out of the equation, and he was able to slide in to convert into an empty net.

That triggered a Leyton onslaught, and with 15 minutes left they grabbed themselves a lifeline through substitute Daniel Gabriel, who volleyed home expertly at the far post after a flick on from a Junior Luke long throw.

Shaun Lee and Robert Carter toiled to no avail as the game drew to a close, and Abbey were grateful to have clung on for three precious points.