MALDON and Tiptree boss David Wright knows his side must up their game at the weekend.

The Jammers fell to a Ryman League division north 1-0 defeat at Cheshunt on Saturday.

Jason Hallett’s 59th minute goal was all that separated the two sides at the final whistle.

It is the first time that Maldon had failed to score in the league this season.

And Wright wants to make sure that his side take their chances.

He said: “Their keeper made two excellent saves to keep us out.

“We were still creating chances but not as many as usual.

“To be honest our performance dipped in the game.

“We had our chances and didn’t take them and that was the story of the game really.

“Their goal took a slight deflection.

“But their player did well to take it on his chest on the edge of the box and turn and shoot.

“What we can learn from it is that we should have allowed him time to do that on the edge of the box.

“He should have been closed down quicker. To be fair it was a really frustrating game for us.

“We need to pick up our performance against Sudbury.

“Sudbury are doing really well and we will have to raise our game.”

Wright also wasn’t impressed when his side were reduced to men at Cheshunt with the sending off of debutant Darren Mills for a second bookable offence.

He said: “It was a poor sending off.

“The first yellow was for pushing a player and the second was for a dive, simulation.

“It was a really poor sending off and we will miss Millsy for a game in a couple of weeks.

“But we will deal with that when it comes.”

Wright knows there is still work to do with his side as he attempts to get them to gel.

He added: “We are still a young side, that hasn’t been playing together for a long time.

“There are bound to be ups and downs in what we are trying to do.

“But as the players play more alongside each other, the more comfortable they will be with each other and the ups and downs will get less.”