A THIRD goal of the season for skipper Michael Finneran wasn’t enough to secure a win for Maldon and Tiptree as they had to settle for a 1-1 draw with Coggeshall Town, writes LEE WITNEY.

Substitute Darnell Kithambo equalised to rescue a point for Coggeshall that, in all honesty, does nothing to ease the relegation worries of both sides.

The point, coupled with defeats for Tilbury and Great Wakering, moves the Jammers eight points clear of the bottom four, with six games remaining.

Peter Taylor handed out four debuts, with goalkeeper Noah Phillips starting in place of Rob Budd, midfielders Michael Salako and Samuel Carter named in the starting line-up and Samuel Ayoola coming off the bench to complete the quadruple.

With 15 minutes played, a poor clearance from Danny Nesbitt in the Jammers defence landed at the feet of ex-Maldon man, Evan Collard.

He unleashed a fierce 25-yard effort that just skimmed the outside of a post and rippled the side netting.

That seemed to spur the home side into life. On 20 minutes, some quick play across the right of the pitch from Salako to Harry Phillips gave Terrell Egbri a chance to get at his defender.

His pace and trickery forced a corner which fell to Lewis Jaggs on the edge of the box, but his shot cleared the bar as the visitors survived their first real scare.

Just after half hour, a weak defensive clearance from Coggeshall’s Freddie Tandon fell for Harry on the edge of the box.

His volley forced ex-Jammers keeper Tom Middlehurst into a smart save down low to his right, but there was no-one on hand to convert the rebound.

Just before half-time, Middlehurst again thwarted his old side to prevent an own goal.

Some neat play between Salako and Phillips on the edge of the box gave the former a chance to cross in.

His low ball in hit a Coggeshall leg and was heading in but for Middlehurst, who got down spectacularly well to push the ball to safety.

The interval arrived with both sides yet to find a breakthrough but with the Jammers unlucky not to be ahead.

The second half began with a torrential downpour but the Jammers got the breakthrough their endeavour deserved.

Harry's free-kick from the left found the head of Finneran, with the skipper leaping to guide the ball into the bottom corner past Middlehurst.

Just before the hour, another fine Middlehurst save - this time from George Smith and a Salako header that landed just the wrong side of the post kept the home side’s lead at just one.

On 70 minutes, the hosts were made to pay for not taking their chances.

Substitute Darnell Kithambo scored with his first touch, lifting the ball over Phillips after latching onto a long throw to the delight of the travelling contingent.

Five minutes from time, a stunning point blank double save from Middlehurst to deny Finneran and then Salako on the line summed the Jammers and Middlehurst’s afternoon up.

A flurry of late Coggeshall stoppage-time set-pieces came to nothing, leaving Maldon to rue missed chances.