A BUMPER Bank Holiday weekend delivered a maximum return of six points for Maldon and Tiptree who kept up their early momentum to stay top of the Pitching In Isthmian League division north table, writes LEE WITNEY.
Tilbury visited a packed out Drewitt-Barlow Stadium, on Bank Holiday Monday.
The Jammers nearly took the lead in the opening minute as Amine Sassi headed Terrell Egbri’s cross just wide.
Tilbury’s first attempt of the afternoon came through Lester Ward, but his effort from the edge of the box was simple for Justham.
Having weathered a heavy early storm, the visitors worked their way back into proceedings. Dan Trendall skewed a shot inches wide of the far post.
The 0-0 half-time scoreline was a fair reflection on a scrappy first half where neither side were ever really on top.
The Jammers broke the deadlock on the hour when Tevan Allen turned home Cameron James’ cross with a deft lob over the advancing Harry Fairs.
Former Maldon man Darren Phillips entered the fray not long after the goal and he very nearly equalised.
A Tilbury corner was delivered deep to the back post where Phillips came charging in but just missed the ball.
Phillips’ afternoon was cut short with 82 minutes gone when he was shown a straight red for an elbow to Tom Eastman.
Four minutes later, Amine Sassi put the game to bed as he grabbed his first goal of the season.
Egbri did brilliantly on the right to create space for a cross and he found Sassi, who headed home.
On Saturday, Kevin Horlock’s side made the trip to newly promoted Takeley.
It was the hosts who started brightly, and they nearly took the lead within a minute as a header from a corner went just wide.
Maldon gradually got a foothold in the game and started to apply pressure of their own. Jack Cawley headed from a corner with ten minutes played.
With just over 20 minutes gone, Takeley rattled the bar with another header from a well worked free-kick routine.
Jack Mitchell drew a sharp save from Eliott Justham diving away to his right as a scrappy first half came to a close.
Into the second half, and it was Takeley who again nearly took an early lead. Olly Miles wasn’t miles away with a diving header at the back post.
Justham was called into action minutes later and he responded to make a brilliant one on one save.
It was a massive save at the time and minutes later, it proved even bigger as Maldon were awarded a penalty.
Freddie Sears stepped up and slammed home the spot-kick, to give the Jammers the lead.
Takeley weren’t behind for long as Miles grabbed an equaliser for the hosts with 25 minutes to play.
As they’ve done on numerous occasions this season already, the Jammers won the game late on.
A corner to the back post was headed back across goal by Tom Eastman.
In the middle was Cameron James and he blasted the ball into the roof of the net to ensure the three points.
Maldon and Tiptree host Canvey Island in the FA Cup first qualifying round, on Saturday.
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