Jammers gain point from scrappy draw

Aveley FC v Maldon and Tiptree FC Ryman League One North Saturday 28 February 2015

Maldon and Tiptree manager Alan Kimble made just one change for this game recalling Matt Pooley in place of Alberto Pinto. New signing Jordan Jackson was included amongst the substitutes.

Although the opening exchanges were fairly even the Jammers Tundi Adewunni could have opened the scoring after 6 minutes and should have done better when played through the home defence to go clear on goal but he then shanked his effort badly with the ball finishing nearer the corner flag than the goal. Aveley's Jack Stevenson then saw his 20 metre shot saved by visiting keeper Darren Behcet before Maldon and Tiptree's Matt Pooley put a long throw into Alex Anderson whose shot was saved by home keeper James Marrable. After these early exchanges the match descended into a turgid affair with neither team seeming able to get any passing moves going with the ball continually played up into the air, out of bounds or straight to an opposing player. The pitch cut up quite badly leaving an uneven surface and with a swirling wind neither team seemed able or willing to get the ball down and face the lottery that anything played along the surface may have bought. Just two further periods of play from each side were worthy of a mention---the first for the home side when Danny Francis received the ball with his back to goal and he turned well to then shoot over from the edge of the penalty area and secondly when Luke Stanley took advantage of a mistake in the visitors defence but he then also shot over. Likewise the first for the visitors saw Adewunni in a similar situation to Francis and he also put his shot over the bar then Anderson and Nathan Koranteng managed to get two passes together but Koranteng then spoiled it by shooting well wide. The referee's half time whistle came as somewhat of a relief to the hardy spectators who had been provided with little cheer in a biting wind.

Half Time Aveley FC 0 Maldon and Tiptree FC 0

The second half started somewhat better than the first with a good move from the visitors that saw Koranteng giving Anderson a shooting chance that was saved before Aveley's Theo Ola's cross from the left was headed just wide by Alex Stavrinou. After what had gone before it was a surprise when the visitors opened the scoring after 60 minutes when an Aveley corner was quickly cleared up field to Adewunni (pictured) who battled really well to gain and keep possession before splitting the home defence with a fine ball through to Koranteng to lash home from just inside the penalty area. This fine piece of play was matched with an equalising goal just two minutes later when Jammers old boy Jack Stevenson received the ball 25 metres out and hit a fine shot into the far top corner. These two much better passages of play were not maintained and the general level of play fell back to that of the first half with little in the way of goal scoring chances with both teams seeming to settle for a point each. There was just time for Aveley to threaten when a Stevenson free kick caused some concern in the visitors goal area but after Francis's close range shot was blocked Behcet managed to grab the ball before Aveley substitute Petrit Elbi fired in a good low shot that Behcet had to be at his best to dive and get the ball round the post. In the last minutes Maldon and Tiptree's substitute Jonathon Nzengo did well down the right before getting a centre over that the hard working Adewunni just failed to make contact with before Anderson from the left got a low centre across the home goal area that no one could get a touch to.

Final Score Aveley FC 1 Maldon and Tiptree FC 1

Aveley FC

James Marrable, Paul Preston, Sammy Knott, Junior Baker, George Essuman, Alex Stavrinou, Theo Ola (Petrit Elbi 63), Billy Holland, Danny Francis (Tarryn Allarakhia 90), Jack Stevenson, Luke Stanley (Arian Retkoceri 68)

Unused Substitutes

Matty Bakare, Charlie Gregory

Maldon and Tiptree FC

Darren Behcet, Matt Pooley, Mitch Hunter, Theo Jones, Gavin Greenfield, Phil Anderson, Alex Anderson, Matt Gulfer, Mason Bloomfield (Jonathon Nzengo 73), Tundi Adewunni, Nathan Koranteng (Ruddock Yala 90)

Unused Substitutes

Alberto Pinto, Jordan Jackson, Harry Palmer