Two significant changes for the Jammers saw recently signed keeper Darren Behcet given the gloves and defender Ollie Devenish (pictured) recalled in place of Bouamrane Youcef.

On a pitch that looked good but did cut up quite badly as the game went on it was the visitors who attacked first and really should have opened their account. On 6 minutes Alex Andrews took advantage of a blocked clearance but then bundled his good scoring chance straight at home keeper Marcus Garnham before Mason Bloomfield's weak effort from the rebound was easily dealt with by Garnham. Then just a couple of minutes later good football by the Jammers down the right ended with Jonathon Nzengo's cross into Andrews just being missed as the onrushing forward just lost control at the vital moment. Somewhat against the run of play the home side opened the scoring after 15 minutes when Kris Newby's curling free kick from wide on the left found Ryan Henshaw dashing in at the far post and he was able to easily fire home. The goal encouraged the home side to up their attacking game and Lawrence Yiga hit a speculative effort from 30 metres over the bar before Newby spurned a good chance when Behcet's poor clearance gave him shooting chance but he ballooned his effort well over. Newby then fired a cracking effort in from 30 metres that Behcet did very well to push away before the visitors responded with Hayes Thomas's cross giving Alex Anderson a shooting chance that was saved by Garnham. Towards the end of a first half that had contained little in the way of flowing football the visitors again scorned a golden scoring opportunity when Nathan Koranteng was put clear through the home defnce but then screwed his effort agonisingly inches past the far post.

Half Time AFC Sudbury 1 Maldon and Tiptree 0

Maldon and Tiptree were again first on the attack as the half opened and Andrews wriggled free down the line to get a cross over to Nzengo in front of goal but the winger seemed to completely miss his shot before Andrews was only stopped by a last minute tackle as he was about to shoot when well placed. Sudbury responded with full back Tyler Kemp moving forward and getting a fine strike away that Behcet just beat away with Newby just having the rebound taken from his toes but then Jammers substitute Tunde Adewumni .
almost got an instant reward but shortly after coming on his header from Mitch Hunter's free kick went across goal and just past the far post when he should really have but the ball in the net. Most of the play was now taking place in the home half as Maldon and Tiptree dealt easily with the home sides attack but were just not able to convert any number of half chances. AFC did break the trend with a good passing move that ended with Scott Kemp firing over with an attempted bicycle kick but back came the visitors with Mason Bloomfield putting a low drive from 25 metres wide. The visitors Koranteng was working hard to get on the ball and he did well from the left but his very strong cross from the left was well headed away by a home defender before Bloomfield saw his close range effort ricochet away from goal. Further Jammers substitute Gerhard Karsniqi did well down the right but his over hit cross flew just over then Adewumni went past a couple of defenders but put his effort wide. The visitors were left to rue their fate at the final whistle as they were definitely worth a point but to earn that you have to get the ball into the opponents net.

Final Score AFC Sudbury 1 Maldon and Tiptree FC 0

AFC Sudbury

Marcus Garnham, Ben Robinson, Tyler Kemp, Ollie Berquez, Ryan Henshaw, Lawrence Yiga, Jordan Blackwell (Josh Kerridge 66), Sam Clarke, Terry Rymer, Kris Newby, Scott Kemp

Unused Substitutes

Mark Ray, Joe Chester, Louis Johnson.

Maldon and Tiptree FC

Darren Behcet, Hayes Thomas, Mitch Hunter, Alex Anderson, Ollie Devenish, Rudduck Yala, Jonathon Nzengo (Gerhard Karsniqi 70), Maxi Lette-Jallow, Mason Bloomfield, Alex Andrews (Tunde Adewumni 59), Nathan Koranteng

Unused Substitutes

Jack Barham, Matt Pooley, Lewis Moore