JAMMERS manager Steve Ball was disappointed that his side fell to defeat against leaders AFC Sudbury.

Maldon and Tiptree lost out 2-0 to Sudbury at Park Drive on Tuesday night in their Ryman League division north encounter.

Ball said: “We dominated the game in the first half.

“We had two or three great chances and we were on top for 44 minutes.

“Then we gave away a silly free-kick and it goes through the wall to put them in the lead.

“We are in the dressing room at half-time thinking ‘how are we 1-0 down’.

“The first half was one of our best performances all season.

“We came out in the second half and we were on top again.

“Billy Roast then makes an unfortunate mistake and they go 2-0 up and our heads drop a little bit.

“All credit to Sudbury, they took their chances.

“But, we are playing really well and I hope people can see what we are building here with this group of players.”

Leaders Sudbury took the lead on the stroke of half-time when Jack Wilkinson fired home from a free-kick.

After the break, James Baker’s pass released George Clarke to run through and fire home to make it 2-0 for the visitors on 68 minutes.

The Jammers face another side who are on a good run this Saturday when they entertain seventh-placed Brightlingsea Regent.

Regent have only lost one league game in their last 11 outings.

Ball said: “At the start of the season we would have wanted to be in the same position as Brightlingsea, as well as Sudbury.

“They have had a good season and are a strong team that are on a good run.

“But it is a way of us matching ourselves against them and teams like Sudbury and seeing where we are.”