SHOMARI Barnwell secured the local bragging rights as Maldon and Tiptree advanced to the Velocity Trophy third round with the only goal of the derby clash with Heybridge Swifts, writes JON LONGMAN.

The Jammers scored the all-important goal after seven minutes but the tie had been in doubt after a heavy downpour at teatime required a pitch inspection an hour before the scheduled 7.45pm kick-off.

Referee Michael Robertson-Tant was called to make another key decision when two of the floodlight pylons failed after the players had completed their warm-up.

Jammers official Roger Stephenson explained: “We think that a bulb failed and that blew a fuse.

“We have to wait 15 minutes for the lights to cool down before we can switch them on again so the match will kick off at 8pm.”

The three officials came out early and there was another worry as light rain began to fall but the lights came on except for the failed lantern.

The referee said the players should warm up again and the match started at 8.16pm.

Barnwell wrapped up victory at 8.23pm when he beat Swifts keeper Callum Chafer from 15 yards after Manny Martins crossed a defence splitting pass from Charlee Hughes.

The Jammers looked set to give the weakened Swifts side a challenging evening but poor shoting and an inspired display by Chafer kept alive the possibility of a penalty shoot out right to the final whistle.

Swifts striker Shem Perkins-Palmer shot over the angle of bar and post with keeper Tommy Dixon-Hodge struggling in his first Blackwater derby, having played for Ross County after graduating from the Chelmsford City Academy.

Swifts survived a justified penalty shot before Dixon-Hodge denied Perkins-Palmer, recruited from Burnham Ramblers, an equaliser with a superb fingertip save.

However, the Jammers keeper saw little action after the break Chafer pulled off a string of glorious saves to keep the Swifts in a contest that attracted 223 to the warm-up for the league derby on Boxing Day.

In the final analysis, the Jammers could have hit five or six goals but the Swifts might counter that a full-strength side would have converted several half chances.

The Jammers needed Malachi Napa’s 90th-minute goal to secure a point at Coggeshall who led 2-0 last Saturday until Barnwell pulled a goal back just before the break.