MALDON & TIPTREE 0 WITHAM TOWN 1

Robert Dyas Cup round one

It was advantage Garry in the battle of the Kimble brothers as his Witham Town side beat Alan’s Maldon and Tiptree 1-0 in the Robert Dyas Cup.

As well as a place in the second round of the Robert Dyas Cup – the Ryman League Cup – there were family bragging rights up for grabs.

There was an intriguing sub-plot to the game as twin brothers Garry and Alan Kimble faced each other as the respective managers of Witham and Maldon.

It was an ironic twist of fate that the two brothers met in Alan’s first game in charge of Maldon and Tiptree, but it was his older brother – by just three minutes – who won the siblings’ dual.

It was pretty even between the two sides in the opening 20 minutes and also a bit scrappy as neither were able to get any telling amounts of possession.

Maldon perhaps had the best of what half chances there were, but the hosts fell behind in the 23rd minute when a penalty was awarded to Witham.

James Robinson, who was facing one of his former clubs, was crudely brought down by Paul Shave and the referee had no hesitation in pointing to the spot.

Robinson picked himself up and slammed the ball into the net for the advantage.

Maldon came straight back from the set-back, though, and a long-range effort by Nathan Akurang was parried by Witham keeper Harry Palmer, but Anthony Martin could only head the rebound into Palmer’s arms.

It was a missed opportunity and the game then reverted to a scrappy battle between the two with neither really able to threaten the respective goalkeepers.

That situation continued into the second half, but there were a few chances.

A good run by Shamido Pedulu down the left ended with the ball being flashed across the home goal but the onrushing Robinson just couldn’t get a touch to it.

Jack Paxman then curled an effort just round the Maldon post, while at the other end Ben Sartain was unable to find the target when well-placed in the penalty area.

There was a late save to be made by Harry Palmer from Cliff Akurang's free-kick but there was no way back for Maldon and it was Witham who went through.