MALDON and Tiptree suffered a disappointing 1-0 defeat at Gorleston in a match that was low on quality and didn’t produce much in the way of creativity, writes ROY WARNER.

With both sides having nothing to play for in Pitching In Isthmian League division north, it was perhaps no surprise the game was slow to get going.

The Jammers arguably had the better of the opening exchanges but it took until the tenth minute for the first chance of note to materialise.

A cross in from the Maldon right-hand side nearly found Terrell Egbri's head at the back post, the ball was cleared away but only as far as Harry Phillips in the edge of the box.

His left foot effort was just dragged the wrong side of the far post, as the game remained goalless.

On 23 minutes, some great pressing from Egbri to win the ball back on the edge of the Gorleston box presented Sam Carter with a chance one on one with Jake Jessup.

The angle was always against Carter, however, and Jessup made a fairly routine save.

With half an hour played, the visitors came forward again - this time through Louie Remi.

With some deft footwork, he bamboozled the defence, but saw his shot blocked.

The ball broke back to Remi who squared it for Egbri to have a try, but his effort cleared the bar.

With half-time approaching, the hosts created a couple of chances for themselves.

An effort from the top left corner of the box drawing a smart save from Jammers keeper, Rob Budd who pushed Nathan Stewart's effort away to his right.

Then a header was put over by Craig Parker, from a corner.

The second half began with the Jammers looking the more lively of the two sides.

Five minutes had passed when Billy Willis put a wonderful cross in from the right hand side which was just taken off George Smith's toes in front of goal for a corner.

Gorleston sprung a counter attack and some alert goalkeeping from Budd to intercept the through ball was nearly in vain when the clearance fell to Jacek Zielonka.

However, with the Jammers man stranded, the Gorleston effort sailed well over.

The Jammers regained their composure and a couple of minutes later, Phillips' sublime backheel set Willis away down the right again.

Another great ball into Smith allowed the latter to get a shot away, but it was deflected wide for a corner.

With little more than 25 minutes left, the hosts started to work their way back into the game.

A header over the bar and then a blocked shot from 18 yards out five minutes later along with calls for a penalty suggested there was life in this game yet.

With 83 minutes played, Gorleston snatched what was to prove to be the winning goal.

A Maldon throw-in was intercepted by Connor Deeks on the Gorleston left hand side about 20 yards inside their own half.

His long, raking pass found Henry Pollock who put a low ball into the six-yard box, allowed Ross Gilfedder to bundle home.

A couple of late Maldon corners came to nothing as the hosts closed out the game to leapfrog the Jammers into 13th place.