MALDON and Tiptree’s Bank Holiday double header leaves them still searching for their first Pitching In Isthmian League division north win of the season following an away defeat to Lowestoft Town and a home draw against Grays Athletic, writes LEE WITNEY.

First up for Maldon was a trip to Lowestoft where a quick-fire double from ex-Jammers man, Harvey Sayer, condemned them to defeat in a biblical rain storm that threatened to see the game abandoned.

With half an hour on the clock, Lowestoft made the breakthrough and it was Sayer who yet again came back to haunt his old team.

A fre-kick on Maldon’s right hand byline was whipped in and despite Kyle Haylock’s attempts to glance it home, sailed all the way in to give the hosts the lead.

With the rain now lashing down, things got worse for Maldon five minutes later when Billy Willis felled Adam Hipperson in the box for a penalty which was dispatched by Sayer, sending Middlehurst the wrong way for his second of the afternoon.

Maldon nearly found a way back into things late on, first through Andre Hassanally’s corner which hit the top of the crossbar and then a Lewis Jaggs header which hit the post from close range.

Next up was a visit from Grays on Bank Holiday Monday, with the visitors previously pointless after their first two games.

Maldon started well and nearly went ahead on ten minutes, but Samuel Ayoola’s header was cleared off the line after he got onto a Hasanally corner at the back post.

Grays were largely restricted to efforts from distance bar a Romaric Logon shot from close range that drew a smart save from Tom Middlehurst.

Alex Clark tried his luck from distance after cutting in on the right, but his left footed effort was denied by a stunning save from Grays keeper Danny Sambrige, five minutes before the break.

The Jammers should have taken a first-half stoppage-time lead when Billy Willis' great ball found Ayoola in the box, he couldn’t get a shot away but laid it off to Egbri who fired over from close range.

Grays took the lead on 55 minutes when Rob Clark's free-kick from the right was headed home by Troy Osei-Bobie.

That seemed to spur the visitors into life and they created numerous chances to extend their lead but Maldon weathered the storm and their perseverance was rewarded late on.

With five minutes left, Hasanally was fouled about 20 yards out and the former Colchester youngster placed the resultant free-kick into the top right corner, to ensure a share of the spoils.

Next up for Maldon is a trip to Biggleswade FC in the FA Cup first qualifying round, on Sunday.