A LATE Matt Price goal sealed Maldon and Tiptree’s FA Cup progress to the first qualifying round with a 2-1 win at Hadley, writes LEE WITNEY.
A scrappy game took a while to get going; both sides had half chances, although Hadley were able to put pressure on via some set pieces that Maldon dealt with.
The first moment of real quality came with 20 minutes played and it belonged to Maldon.
Some neat play down the right-hand side between Cameron James and Terrell Egbri allowed the latter to get a cross in.
Amine Sassi attacked the ball at the back post but nodded just wide of Charlie Taylor’s goal.
Maldon were given a great chance to take the lead just before the half hour when Egbri was sandwiched by the Hadley goalkeeper and left-back.
The referee pointed to the spot and Freddie Sears stepped up and smashed the ball high into the net.
That spurred Kevin Horlock’s side into the life and Sassi tested Taylor moments later with a rasping drive.
Hadley managed to work their way back into the game and before half-time, a succession of dangerous corners served as a reminder that Maldon wouldn’t have things all their own way.
The hosts kept up that intensity as the second half got underway and got their rewards soon after.
Lenny Asamoah was brought down in the box and the referee awarded a second penalty of the afternoon.
Luke Alfano matched Sears’ feat, converting his spot-kick to level the match.
Alfano nearly added a second with 11 minutes of the half gone, but his close-range header was well saved by Elliot Justham.
Within minutes of coming onto the pitch, Price was in the thick of the action.
A Maldon corner caused panic in the Hadley box and as he went for the ball, Price was crudely hacked down on the goal line.
Huge penalty appeals were waved away, to the bemusement of the Maldon players.
That lit the touch paper and from here on it, a feisty affair played out.
Luck seemingly wasn’t on Maldon’s side as Price saw a goal ruled out.
The ball looked to have crossed the line from where the Jammers fans were congregated, but the assistant and referee waved play on.
Maldon continued to pour forward, but had to be mindful of getting sucker punched at the other end.
Tevan Allen had a shot saved by Taylor and saw a shot from outside the box float just over with five minutes left.
Just as it looked like we were heading to a replay, Price struck to break Hadley hearts.
Taking the ball into his stride from a set-piece, he set himself and was the calmest man on the pitch to fire into the roof of the net.
The Maldon players and fans went wild as the referee blew for full-time.
The Jammers will next host Canvey Island in the FA Cup first qualifying round on August 30, as they welcome more than a couple of familiar faces back to the Drewitt-Barlow Stadium.
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