MALDON and Tiptree were forced to settle for a point as Grays Athletic's Shane Temple came back to haunt them in a 1-1 draw, writes LEE WITNEY.
A bumper crowd of 746 packed into the Drewitt-Barlow Stadium on a picture perfect day on the Essex Riviera.
Amine Sassi started where he left off last week and within five minutes, he forced a good stop from the foot of Danny Sambridge.
A couple of minutes later, the Jammers were ahead. Kien Connolly picked the ball up in the Grays half. With no support, he drove towards goal before cutting inside and firing inside the near post.
Grays steadied and Sam Bantick had appeals for a penalty waved away with just over 20 minutes played.
On the half hour, Elliot Justham was tested for the first time. He saved two free kicks in as many minutes- the second leading to a corner and an almighty goalmouth scramble that was just about cleared.
Just before halftime, Sassi met Kai Brown’s cross with a brilliant header about 12 yards from goal. Unfortunately for the Jammers’ man, it clipped the inside of the post and Sambridge grabbed the loose ball.
Grays found themselves behind at the break, but still very much in the match.
The visitors set their stall out early in the second half. Alejandro Machado headed over from a freekick.
Another free-kick caused Justham more concern as it took a deflection on the way through.
The keeper parried it away before diving on the rebound with the assistant’s offside flag coming to Maldon’s aid.
Louie Arrowsmith went close for the home side in the 55th minute, but his effort went just wide.
With 25 minutes left, Grays got the goal their play had deserved.
Urged on by the vocal away fans, former Jammers skipper Michael Finneran took aim from about 35 yards out.
Justham tipped the ball wide for a corner and yet another Maldon man, Shane Temple poked home on the line to level the score.
Maldon went looking to restore their advantage. Lorenzo Lewis smashed a shot wide before he too saw appeals for a penalty blanked by the referee.
Into the last 15 minutes and Sassi was denied by the post again. Matt Yates drove into the box before playing a ball across that evaded Connolly only to fall for Sassi whose shot crashed back off a post.
A couple of Grays free-kicks came to nothing as both sides had to settle for a draw in an entertaining match that could’ve gone either way.
Next up for the Jammers is a journey up the A12 to take on Ipswich Wanderers, on Saturday.
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