Ware vs Maldon & Tiptree FC

They say it is good when you do not play well but still earn 3 points and that was certainly true when Maldon and Tiptree beat relegation threatened Ware with a poor performance, only highlighted by three very well taken goals, although Ware will be somewhat aggrieved that their share of the play was not truely reflected in the final score line.

Ware get the game started.

Scrappy would be the best and most kind way of describing a first half almost devoid of any goal mouth action with a bumpy pitch and strong wind blowing down the slope certainly not helping. It took until the 12th minute for any action close to goal when the home sides Shiels and Querry combined for Gill to shoot just over. The visitors responded after 16 minutes with a Morgan free kick being headed goal wards by Flanagan for the home defence to clear. Maldon and Tiptree's loanee keeper Phillips was then called upon to make the first of a number of fine saves when he saved well low down to his right, with the home sides Blessing's conversion from the rebound being chalked off because of a clear offside decision. A further good save by Philiips followed on 28 minutes after some good work and shot on the left from Querry. The rest of the half was largely forgettable with the visitors not able to produce any fluid football with the long ball option often taken and then played too far ahead of the attackers and the home side finding it difficult against the slope and strong wind.

Half Time Ware 0 Maldon and Tiptree 0

The second half was a distinct improvement on the first and in the first minute Yao for the visitors was put through on goal but keeper Madden and defender Akande combined to clear the danger. There then followed a period of pressure from the home side with King putting a first time effort from a long clearance over the bar before Rolfe put a good volley just wide. Phillips in the visitors goal then excelled with two fine saves to firstly deny Gill with a fine diving save before King was thwarted with a superb save from his close range shot. Further efforts from King and Rolfe were more comfortablely dealt with by Phillips before the visitors surprisingly scored 3 times in 4 minutes. The first after 70 minutes came when Wall headed on a Milner throw to Yao who then set up Luke to score with a fine shot from 20 metres into the top corner. Just 3 minutes later Yao scored the second when he ran onto a long Berquez pass, turned his defender and then, from 15 metres, shot low and hard past the helpless Madden in the home goal.

Yao celebrates after his first goal.

Just one minute later Yao scored his second when he beat the offside trap by running unchecked from inside his own half to shoot past Madden from the edge of the penalty area. Ware, to their credit, did not throw the towel in and for the last 15 minutes again forced the pace with the visitors seemingly content to sit on their lead. It took another good save from Phillips to deny the home sides King before Ware were rewarded with a goal after 81 minutes when Rolfe's direct free kick from the edge of the area just beat Phillips's despairing dive. Maldon and Tiptree then comfortably played out the rest of the match with only another save from Phillips to keep out Akande's effort needed to ensure a somewhat streaky win which Ware could surely claim was not a true reflection of the play

Final score Ware FC 1 Maldon and Tiptree 3

Ware

Madden, Rispoli L, Rispoli V, King, Akande, Bastian, Gill, Rolfe, Shiels (Taylor 75), Blessing (Silents 67), Querry (Crace 75).

Unused Substitutes

Nethercott, Beckle

Maldon and Tiptree

Phillips, Coyne, O'Rawe, Morgan, Flanagan, Cousins, Luke, Berquez (Wiffin 75), Wall (Antoine 75), Yao, Milner

Unused Substitutes

Saltwell, Downs

Chatham vs Maldon & Tiptree FC

Maldon & Tiptree visited the well-appointed Maidstone Road ground seeking to avenge an opening day of the season 1-0 defeat inflicted on them by Chatham Town but it was obvious from first sight of the pitch, which had not seen a mower for some time, that any attractive football would be at a premium. Manager Mike Flanagan was able to name an unchanged team from the one which had put in an impressive performance against Romford in midweek.

Players enter the field of play..

The visitors kicked off in damp conditions and Junior Luke broke down the right but his cross went behind. As early as the 4th minute the home side were forced to make a substitution when Jamie Lawrence replaced captain Brad Potter who appeared to have suffered a muscle injury in the pre-match warm up. Maldon & Tiptree enjoyed the early pressure as Ross Wall fired an effort straight at keeper Roberts after 10 minutes and then only 3 minutes later the same player was unlucky when he narrowly failed to beat the advancing Roberts as he attempted to reach a through ball from Sos Yao. Both teams were guilty of giving the ball away on a difficult surface but the home side took the lead against the run of play on 15 minutes when a cross from the right by Watson was met with a powerful header from Joe Fuller and, although Scott Stevens managed to get his hands to the ball, he was unable to prevent it entering the net at the near post.

Keeper Stevens, who failed to save the header.

Maldon & Tiptree continued to enjoy the majority of the possession without managing to create many clear-cut opportunities but on 20 minutes, when Junior Luke was held back on the right, Dave Collins’ curling free kick was met by Adam Flanagan but he was unable to get enough power in his header. Reece Morgan was getting through a lot of work in midfield for the visitors and he put a long-range effort over the bar on 25 minutes as the home defence retreated to leave him unchallenged. Ollie Berquez seemed to have been targeted for some special treatment by the home side as referee Potter spoke to Chatham’s Lawrence and Watson for late challenges on him in the space of only 6 minutes, but the game was being played in a good spirit with both defences on top. On 37 minutes Ross Wall fired narrowly wide of the far post after an impressive move involving Luke, Berquez and Morgan and, as Maldon & Tiptree ended the first half in control, Adam Flanagan, attempting to score for the third consecutive game, could only put a header from another free kick from Collins straight into the grateful arms of home keeper Roberts for what was the last chance of a disappointing first half.

Half-time: Chatham Town 1 Maldon & Tiptree 0

The second half started as the first period ended with the visitors enjoying the majority of the possession but their final ball was poor and they were unable to threaten the home goal. On 50 minutes an uncharacteristic poor ball out of defence by Ian Cousins allowed Chatham’s Matt Jolly to find the dangerous Gary Tilley on the left but his cross was too deep for both Watson and Fuller. Junior Luke should have equalised for Maldon & Tiptree only two minutes later when he was left free on goal on the edge of the area but his attempt to lob the advancing keeper dropped narrowly wide of the far post. On 54 minutes Chatham’s Matt Newman was lucky to avoid a booking for blatantly pulling back Sos Yao to prevent the strikers run on goal from a deep position. In an isolated break-away, Tilley got behind the visiting defence on the left but he fired narrowly wide of the far post.

Junior Luke...

Sos Yao gets his foot in.

Newman was fortunate to just reach a through ball ahead of the Yao to concede a corner on 57 minutes but Dave Collins’ kick was easily cleared. On the hour mark the home side enjoyed their best period of play of the game and, when Cousins was adjudged to have fouled Fuller on the edge of the penalty area, Tilley’s free kick was blocked by the defensive wall and from the resultant corner Chris Hill’s powerful header was blocked and the ball was eventually scrambled clear after a second corner. In their search for an equaliser Maldon & Tiptree were guilty of giving the ball away and Chatham were beginning to look dangerous on the break but, ironically, the visitors equalised after a period of Chatham pressure. On 66 minutes, Collins and Cousins combined on the left of defence to clear the ball to Jack Stevenson who released Sos Yao who outpaced defender Hill and beat the advancing Roberts to put the ball inside the far post. Joe Pearman immediately replaced the impressive Reece Morgan for the visitors but Chatham responded as Stevens had to be alert to reach a through ball ahead of Fuller and then Jason Barton fired a first-time effort narrowly wide.

On 71 minutes Sos Yao had an ideal opportunity to give the visitors the lead when he was again through on goal but, after taking the ball past the advancing goalkeeper, he slipped as he tried to put the ball in the net from an acute angle and could only hit the side-netting. A minute later, former Maldon Town favourite Jack Jeffery replaced Fuller for Chatham and he almost had an immediate impact when he put a header from a free kick narrowly wide of the near post. On 75 minutes a weaving run from Stevenson took him past several Chatham defenders but his final shot went narrowly wide with Roberts beaten. Leon Antoine replaced Ross Wall on 78 minutes and 3 minutes later the home side should have taken the lead when Luke lost possession on the halfway line allowing Tilley to break. His cross found Watson unmarked at the far post but he sliced his effort wide of the target from close range. Chatham’s Barton was booked for dissent on 83 minutes for kicking the ball away after being given offside and both sides had chances in the closing minutes as first Yao put an attempted lob straight at the keeper on 86 minutes and then Jeffery fired over the bar 2 minutes later at the other end. A minute from the end of normal time, Chatham’s Lawrence received a yellow card for a late challenge on Collins and, in the first minute of time added on, Ollie Berquez received similar punishment for a foul on Jeffery.

Full-Time: Chatham Town 1 Maldon & Tiptree 1


Attendance: 117

Chatham Town: Roberts, Laker, Barton, Solly, Hill, Potter (Lawrence), Watson, Hales, Fuller (Jeffery), Newman, Tilley. Subs not used: Mollah, Kessell. 

Maldon & Tiptree: Stevens, O’Rawe, Collins, Stevenson, Flanagan, Cousins, Luke, Berquez, Wall (Antoine), Yao, Morgan (Pearman). Subs not used: Saltwell, Coyne.

Maldon & Tiptree Man-of-the-Match : Reece Morgan

Romford vs Maldon & Tiptree FC

After dominating the first 75 minutes of play and taking a 4 goals to one lead, Maldon and Tiptree almost gave things away when Romford scored two late goals to take the game to a nail biting conclusion.

Maldon and Tiptree had by far the better of the first half with Luke a constant threat down the right flank with his strong running aided by Yao with his trickery down the middle. As early as the 3rd minute Luke was involved, although his attempt from Berquez's centre went horribly wide. He did much better after 8 minutes with a strong run and and cross that was just kept out by the home defence before another run and fine cross almost resulted in a home defender putting into his own net. The visitors Collins then saw his free kick go right through home keeper Anderson's hands for a corner before a clever cross by Morgan was just gathered by Anderson. Little was seen of the home attack until the 25 minute when Oates shot over before Smith freed Isa to put a snap shot just over. The visitors responded after 28 minutes with a quick break by Luke only stopped at the expense of a corner before on 30 minutes Maldon and Tiptree got the goal their play deserved when Flanagan comfortably headed in from a Collins free kick after Luke had been impeded. Excellent interplay between the visitors front three of Wall, Yao and Luke kept the home defence working hard not to concede again but Berquez just headed wide from another Luke centre before Wall tried his luck with a shot that Anderson saved well. On 42 minutes Maldon and Tiptree scored a second goal from a well taken penalty by Berquez after a tricky run from Yao was only stopped with a foul challenge close to the goal line. Wall then saw another shot well stopped by Anderson with his legs before Luke, again got away down the right to get in a cross that was just missed by both Wall and Yao. 

Half Time Romford 0 Maldon and Tiptree 2

Due presumably from a half time rollicking, Romford came out for the second half seemingly intent on repairing the damage of the first half with Oates having a shot blocked on the goal line before central defender Toms, up for a corner, controlled well on the edge of the area but then shot over. With another foray into Romfords half after 60 minutes the visitors scored for a third time when a long hanging cross was allowed to reach Wall and he rose well to head into the back of the net. That should have been game over but 2 minutes later the visitors Flanagan gave the home side some hope when putting his headed back pass from a horribly bouncing ball over his own keeper for an own goal. The goal action continued just 3 minutes later when Wall, for Maldon and Tiptree, was left with a simple tap in from Yao's cross after more good work from Luke. After 71 minutes Anderson in the home goal saved well from Berquez after Luke had created an opening but it was the home side who reduced the arrears after 75 minutes when Smith bravely headed in an Oates centre. For the rest of the game both sides almost added to their goal tally but it wasn't until 5 minutes from time that Romford scored a third goal when substitute Odedoyin managed to get the final touch to a long free kick from the left. There was still time for Maldon and Tiptree to have a goal unexpectedly wiped out for offside and for the home sides Isa to hit the outside of the goalpost with a curling shot from 25 yards.

Final score Romford 3 Maldon and Tiptree 4

Romford

Andreson, Ishmail, Dicks (Odedoyin 60), Barry, Toms, Clayton, Bingham, Mackin (Ottley 84), Smith, Isa, Oates (Kavanagh 75) 

Unused Substitutes

Lord

Maldon and Tiptree

Stevens, O'Rawe, Collins, Stevenson, Flanagan, Cousins, Luke (Pearman 80), Berquez, Wall (Antoine 65), Yao, Morgan

Unused Substitutes

Saltwell, Coyne

Waltham Abbey vs Maldon & Tiptree FC.

Maldon and Tiptree will be disappointed that they did not turn their first half chances into more goals and then concede an early second half goal to share the points at Waltham Abbey.

Players come on to the pitch.

After an early exchange of equal play Waltham Forest were the first to threaten a goal after 8 minutes when Harvey shot narrowly wide when set up by Bristow's short corner. The visitors then dominated goal scoring chances with Yao's 9th minute shot being well saved at the expense of a corner by home keeper Hayward then Flanagan's header from Pearman's corner was just saved from under the bar. 2 minutes later Wall's shot was diverted onto the post by a home defender then Yao's shot into the net from the rebound was somehow ruled out for offside. After 15 minutes good work from Luke on the right left Yao to volley narrowly past the post before Stevenson shot over after Yao had helped on Collins's cross.

Little was being seen of the home attack with the visitors defenders keeping a tight grip and not giving anything away with the result that the ball was continually being returned into the home sides half where Wall and Yao were holding the ball up well to get other team mates involved. After 22 minutes Maldon and Tiptree's Luke went on a long run out of defence and was only stopped at the expense of a foul on the visitors goal line just outside the area. From Collins's free kick Wall rose well right in front of goal but he was unable to get his header on target. After 28 minutes the home side produced almost their lone attacking move of the game so far when Shaw managed to wriggle clear and gain some space but Collins was just able to bundle the ball away. Maldon and Tiptree then came back for Pearman to shoot just wide after 32 minutes before both Wall and Luke could not convert from half chamces.

Just when it seemed that for all their pressure the visitors would not score they finally did convert from one of their many chances right on the stroke of half time. After Luke was fouled wide on the right, Collins swung over the free kick for Berquez to flick on to Flanagan to convert with a header from close range.

Celebrations after Flanagans goal.

Half Time Waltham Abbey 0 Maldon and Tiptree 1

Maldon and Tiptree were forced to rue the missed chances of the first half when the home side equalised after only 3 minutes of the second half when, from a long defensive clearance Collins headed on for centre forward Shaw to go clear to finish well to give visiting keeper Stevens no chance.

Waltham Abbey number 9 makes it 1-1.

After their disappointing first half display this was just the spur the home side needed and just 5 minutes later almost repeated their move for a goal but this time Collins shot wide. For the rest of the second half play and chances were evenly shared with another long run and cross by the visitors Luke being put wide by Wall before the home sides Collins's strong run was only stopped at the expense of a corner from which Webster shot over.

Substitutions by both sides failed to break the deadlock but it took an exceptional finger tip diving save from home keeper Hayward to keep out a fine header from Antoine who made good contact from Luke's cross. Home substitute Laxton then shot wide from Cawley's free kick before a good run from the visitors Yao was only stopped at the expense of a corner.

After conceding so early in the half Maldon and Tiptree may have felt that a draw was a fair result but in reality the game should have been out of reach of the home side before the half time whistle.

 Final score Waltham Abbey 1 Maldon and Tiptree 1

Waltham Abbey
Hayward, Bedford, Daveney (Bolle 59), Attard, Friend, Harvey (Hatherly 57), Webster, Cawley, Shaw, Collins, Bristow (Laxton 75).

Unused Substitutes Burns, Bransgrove

Maldon and Tiptree

Stevens, Coyne, Collins, Stevenson, Flanagan, Cousins, Luke, Berquez, Wall (Antoine 72), Yao, Pearman (Morgan 85)

Unused Substitutes Downs, O'Rawe

Grays Athletic vs Maldon & Tiptree FC.

Maldon and Tiptree earned 3 points with a splendid performance against a Grays team hoping to bring an end to their disappointing win less run. The visitors more than held their own in the first half and in the second repulsed everything that the home side threw at them and on more than one occasion could have scored a second goal.

Players walk on to the pitch.

Grays started the game at a frantic pace and in only the second minute Ryan's powerful close range shot rebounded down and out from the visitors cross bar. Sweeney, against his former club, was then thwarted when clear on goal by visiting keeper Stevens with a brave save at the forwards feet. The visitors responded with Berquez and Stevenson freeing Wall but his pass to Milner was just to long, then Wall's shot was blocked after a a poor kick out by home keeper Tucker, another ex Maldon and Tiptree player. Although the home side shared the play it was the visitors who looked more threatening and after 22 minutes Tucker just saved Berquez's header from a Collins free kick before Milner latched onto a poor back pass by Flynn, only to see his half hit shot roll agonisingly just wide of goal. Just on 25 minutes Carlos, for Grays saw his shot saved after receiving from Pope but a minute later Maldon and Tiptree took the lead when Wall's head on from a long ball out of defence was confidently taken through on goal by Stevenson who calmly put his effort past the on rushing Tucker.

Grays 0 - 1 Maldon & Tiptree

Just one minute later Sweeney, for Grays had the ball taken off his foot by Cousins just as he was about to pull the trigger before the visitors Bunce saw his shot from 22 metres fly just over. Wall, at the forefront of Maldon and Tiptree's attack was having a fine game and continually won the ball, often against more than one opponent and he was involved in a good move down the right from which Stevenson fired just wide. 
Carlos was usually prominent in any Grays moves but even he had difficulty getting anything going on a really heavy pitch where the short ball game was never going to be successful and most long balls finished up with the opposition. 

Half Time Grays 0 Maldon and Tiptree 1

With the considerable slope and wind in their favour Grays looked to apply pressure on the visitors and soon after the restart Flynn shot over before Sweeney headed wide from a Carlos cross. Maldon and Tiptree were also looking for more goals and after 54 minutes Stevenson's shot from the edge of the area was only kept out by a fine save by Tucker at the expense of a corner and from this Wall had a powerful shot which was again well saved by Tucker. After Carlos shot well over the bar Beaney then shot wide after being put clear by Ryan but Grays tactic of putting long high balls into the visitors penalty area was proving meat and drink for the visitors central defenders Flanagan and Cousins who were dominant in the air and let very little past them on the ground. With visiting full backs Coyne and Collins blocking any moves down the line the crosses generally were coming in from much too wide and visiting keeper Stevens was not being put under any great deal of pressure. 

Maldon attack in the second half.

After 70 minutes Grays substitute, Olima, headed over before two free kicks by Carlos on the edge of Maldon and Tiptree's penalty area were blocked by the defensive wall. Wall for the visitors then controlled a long ball on his chest before seeing his shot saved by Tucker before a Coleman cross flew across goal with no one to apply the finishing touch. Despite 3 substitutions Grays method of play did not change and with all of Maldon and Tiptree's players working tirelessly clear cut goal chances were not being made. Indeed the only serious effort on goal came 10 minutes from the end when Olima's shot hit the very top of the bar as it flew over then visiting keeper Stevens was called into action to save from Olima.

Manager Mike Flanagan was extremely pleased with the whole teams performance and work rate and was especially gratified at Wall and Stevenson's performance up front. He is hoping that the team can take this level of performance into the next few games and finish as high in the league as possible. 


Man of the Match: Ian Cousins

Final score Grays 0 Maldon and Tiptree 1

Grays

1 Tucker, 2 Pope, 21 Sweeney (Olima 63), 4 Baker, 15 Ryan, 6 Cooper, 7 Bunce, 8 Beaney, 19 Flynn 9 (Dennis 72), 10 Agombar, 11 Carlos (Small 83)

Unused Substitutes

Ikumelo, Muguo

Maldon and Tiptree

Stevens, Coyne, Collins, Coleman, Flanagan, Cousins, Milner, Berquez (Ladapo 78), Wall, Stevenson, Pearman

Unused Substitutes

Bansor, Wiffen, Saltwell

"These pictures are downloaded from Facebook from Buckbys Photography."

Needham Market vs Maldon & Tiptree

Needham Market v Maldon and Tiptree Ryman League 1 North 14 January 2012

This game bought Maldon and Tiptree's successful run to an abrupt end and also ended Needham Market's recent losing streak. 2 goals midway through the first half for Needham almost decided the game and this was certainly true when Maldon and Tiptree failed to get the vital third goal. 

Needham's early play proved much to strong for Maldon and Tiptree who struggled to make much of an impression on a strong home defence. In the second minute Needham's Johnson shot wide after gaining possession from Harrop's corner before good interplay between Chaplin, Harrop and Thrower allowed Evans a shot at goal which went over. Thrower on Needham's left was finding plenty of space and was giving the visitors defence some problems and his dangerous cross after 10 minutes was only just cleared at the expense of a corner and shortly after his pass inside gave McGlone a shooting chance which was just blocked by Coyne. Little was being seen of Maldon and Tiptree's attack with Yao and Wall finding progress hard against the home teams Boyland and Johnson. On 21 minutes Needham's pressure finally gained its reward with a fine goal from full back R Barber who put Thrower's pass into the corner of the visitors net from the edge of the area. Worse was to follow for Maldon and Tiptree only 2 minutes later when Needham's other full back, Evans, followed up his initial effort, which was blocked, and scored with a shot from all of 30 yards through a crowded penalty area and past the unsighted Stevens in the visitors goal. A goal apiece for each full back must be a somewhat unusual event. Needham continued to have the majority of play and Chaplin, after 33 minutes, shot just over before McGlone was just not able to leap high enough to get his header on target. Towards the end of the half the visitors gained some respite with Wall controlling a long ball and turning well before shooting over then substitute Ladapo headed Pearman's cross straight at home keeper Jones. Just on the half time whistle Yao, for Maldon and Tiptree, showed neat control to beat his covering defender but disappointingly his cross cum shot was cleared for a corner.

Half time Needham Market 2 Maldon and Tiptree 0

Maldon and Tiptree put on a much better show in the second half and made a good start with Wall heading down Pearman's corner for Yao to shoot straight at Jones. Needham responded with McGlone putting in a dangerous cross which was cleared at the expense of a corner by Cousins before Chaplin beat two defenders but then pushed the ball too far enabling Stevens to dive and collect the loose ball. The visitors Ladapo was causing problems down the left with his speed and from one of his crosses neither Yao or Wall could make contact. After 56 minutes Maldon and Tiptree created their best chance to date when only a fine diving save from Needham's Jones kept out Wall's header from an excellent Coleman centre. Just when they were getting a foothold in the game any lingering Maldon and Tiptree hopes of getting something from the game virtually disappeared with Needham's third goal on 60 minutes when Bloomfield finished a fine passing move that had cut through the middle of the visitors defence. The visitors then had their best spell of the game with Ladapo heading over after good work by Yao, then Flanagan headed a corner from Pearman over the bar before Stevenson's shot was blocked for a corner. From this corner after 68 minutes Maldon and Tiptree were, somewhat surprisingly, awarded a penalty for a handling offence by a home defender. Coleman stepped up to confidently put his kick into the corner. The visitors then tried to exert further pressure on the home sides defence but Ladapo, Wall and Yao found it difficult to create any clear scoring opportunities and Needham sealed the game on 88 minutes when the visitors defence gifted the ball to Bloomfield and he had little difficulty in converting from close range. There was just time for Needham's substitute Napier to miss a relatively easy chance after being set up by good work from fellow substitute Smith. 

Manager Mike Flanagan's after match feeling was one of disappointment with the performance and that the recent successful run had come to an end. He stressed that the team must now be fully focused on getting back to winning ways in Tuesday evenings Ryman league match at home against Romford FC.


Man of the Match: Danny Bloomfield (Needham Market).

Final score Needham Market 4 Maldon and Tiptree 1

Needham Market

Jones, Evans, R Barber, B Barber, Boyland, Johnson, Chaplin (Wright 76), Harrop (Napier 87), Bloomfield, McGlone (Smith 64), Thrower

Unused Substitutes

De'ath, Lancaster


Maldon and Tiptree

Stevens, Coyne, Bansor, Stevenson, Flanagan, Cousins, Milner (Ladapo 24) Coleman, Yao, Wall, Pearman

Unused Substitutes

Collins
Saltwell.

Ilford vs Maldon & Tiptree

Ilford v Maldon and Tiptree Ryman League 1 North 11 January


In a poor spectacle of a game, where the ball spent more time in the air than on the ground, Maldon and Tiptree 's gritty display gained a further 3 points that pushed them further away from the relegation dog fight at the bottom of the league. 

In a fairly even first half the poor playing surface meant that both teams tended to use the long ball rather than play anything along the ground. This tactic almost proved productive for the visitors in the fist few minutes when Wall put Yao through on goal but home keeper Budd saved with his legs and then kept out Yao's follow up effort. After 15 minutes Coyne, for the visitors, put a a good cross that Pearman just sent over the bar. Ilford responded with one of very few passing moves that finished with Glowacki just shooting over. Any clear chances on goal were few and far between but the home side carved out the best effort of the half when Glowacki's header hit the far post with Gabriel unable to profit from the rebound. Stevens in the visitors goal then had to react sharply to keep out Carter's shot before the same player put the rebound past the post. Just before the interval, Pearman, for Maldon and Tiptree was put clear of the home defence by Yao but his hurried effort went over the bar. ,

Half time Ilford 0 Maldon and Tiptree 0 

Maldon and Tiptree, with the wind and slight slope in their favour, put early pressure on the home defence and scored 4 minutes into the second half when Wall got on the end of a long ball out of defence to finish well into the top left corner, leaving Budd with no chance. Only one minute later Wall found himself in the same situation but this time his shot went wide. Ilford's keeper Budd, then did well with a diving save at Yao's feet after he had been sent clear by Wall's pass through the home defence before Wall shot wide after good work by Stevenson. Ilford's response was mainly confined to long high balls but Bansor was having a fine game in the centre of the visitors defence so there was little direct threat on the visitors goal. Maldon and Tiptree continued to look the more likely to score and Pearman was only just over with a long shot from Budd's misplaced kick out. Just on the end of normal time the visitors made the game safe when a swift passing move between Wall and Yao left Yao in the clear to convert from close range. In injury time Ilford's last effort was left to Opoka to shoot over from Glowacki's free kick. 


Final score Ilford 0 Maldon and Tiptree 2 

Maldon and Tiptree 

Stevens, Coyne, Bansor, Stevenson, Flanagan, Cousins, Milner, Coleman, Yao, Wall, Pearman

Unused Substitutes

Collins, Downs, Ladapo, Berquez, Antoine

Ilford.

Budd, Tomkins (Hazelwood 65), Kaphorous, Sonuga, Olatunbosun (Jarvis 84), Simpson, Gabriel, Glowacki, Carter, Opoka, Stamp (Abioye 75)

Unused Substitutes

Alexander