Waltham Forest 3 Maldon Town 5

This game had just about everything - good end to end exciting football and plenty of goals.

Maldon had to change their team around when it was announce just before the game that leading goal scorer Steve Wareham had left the club to join East Thurrock Utd of the Ryman Premier Division.

So after scoring a hat-trick on his debut on Tuesday evening, Jamie Ricks went straight into the line-up.

Kicking with the strong wind, Maldon kept the ball down and played some good passing football and it was no surprise when they took the lead on 11 minutes. Matt Cutchey raced into the area only to be brought down, and Ross Parmenter made no mistake with the spot kick.

Two minutes later they increased their lead when Lee Perry went on a run down the middle and unselfishly put the ball in the path of unmarked Kevin Hawes only to see him sky his shot, but Jamie Ricks was on hand to head the ball home.

After 18 minutes Waltham Forest reduced the lead when The Stags' striker Calvin Petrie headed in a corner on his debut.

A minute later a long ball out from Darren Gould found Ross Parmenter on the right. His cross was met by Kevin Hawes to tap in Maldon's third.

Although Maldon had plenty of the ball its was the Stags who looked dangerous on the attack with Petrie looking to cause Maldon's defence problems, and they were caught out in the 37th minute when a long cross found Gazmead Davti at the far post to head the ball past Gould.

But again within a minute, Maldon were two goals ahead after a James Robinson free kick was met by Frankie Everitt.

The second half started with both teams playing good football and the home side pulled one back in the 77th minute. A long cross from Joel Otienne-Clarke found Davti unmarked at the far post and his close range shot gave Gould no chance.

But Maldon restored the two-goal lead in the last minute when Robinson dribbled the ball along the bye line and laid the ball off to Hawes to tap in.

The three points keeps Maldon in with a chance of making the play-offs.

Their next league match is at home to Ilford on Saturday, kick-off 3pm.

In the East Anglian Cup Second Round last Tuesday, Maldon Town beat FC Clacton 4-2.

Jamie Ricks was given his debut and rewarded the manager with a hat-trick.

Gary Howard struck the other goal with a penalty for Maldon, who now go on to play Halstead Town in the group final.