The Jammers ensure Ryman League survival

Waltham Abbey FC v Maldon and Tiptree FC Ryman league One North Saturday 26 April 2015

This was the last game of a long season and Maldon and Tiptree were under pressure to get a winning scoreline which would ensure their Ryman League status for next season. With one exception Jammers manager Alan Kimble was able to name an unchanged team from the one that gained a useful point last week against Dereham Town. The only change was Tunde Adewunni coming in for the suspended Sos Yao with the same substitute list as the last game

The visitors got the first early attack in with Mitch Hunter getting down the line well but then putting his low cross into the side netting. The home side responded with two good long free kicks from inside his own half by Tom Bruno, the first of which gave James Peagram a chance of a shot but he put his effort wide of the far post then from the second Darrelle Russel put his fine shot just the wrong side of the post. Maldon and Tiptree then put a good move together down the left that saw Alex Andrews get the ball to the overlapping Mitch Hunter but again his cross fell behind the goal. The visitors took a deserved lead after 18 minutes when a sweeping move down the middle of the pitch saw Jonathon Nzengo get the ball out to Andrews and his perfectly judged low cross to the far post gave Tunde Adewunni the chance to crash the ball into the net from close range. The visitors were starting to dominate the play and Andrews featured again when he rode a couple of tackles before putting a good shot just wide of the far post before Adewunni had a clear chance to increase his teams lead but after getting clear of the home defence he shot straight at home keeper James May who was able to make the save. Adewunni then almost capitalised on an error from May as the keeper lost possession of a long ball forward but the visitors attacker seemed to get the ball trapped between his legs and the chance was gone. Right on half time Adewunni was again presented with a clear goal scoring chance when again he went clear of the home defenders but this time he could only put a weak shot straight into May's arms.

Half Time Waltham Abbey FC 0 Maldon and Tiptree FC 1

With news filtering through of winning score lines for other teams in the relegation battle the visitors must have regretted not converting from the number of good goal scoring chances they created in the first half but set off determined to get a winning result from this game. Jammers keeper Darren Behcet made an early fine catch to hold Jack Daveney's cross before two corners in quick succession for the visitors were just cleared. The visitors Adewunni then fired wide of the far post from the penalty area angle before some pressure from the home side saw Harry Elmes hitting a scuffed shot wide of the post. Abbey's Daveney then volleyed wide from the edge of the penalty area before a low shot from the same player saw Behcet denying him with a diving save. Visiting captain Gavin Greenfield, pictured, was certainly putting in a superb performance and giving a fine example to the rest of his team as a determined display from all the team kept the visitors in front. The win for the visitors was virtually wrapped up after 79 minutes when Behcet's long goal kick was headed on by Mason Bloomfield to Nathan Koranteng, who had only just come on as a late substitute, and he was able to take the ball on and round keeper May before firing into the goal where Andrews followed up to make sure the ball crossed the goal line. With a two goal cushion most of the tension went out of the game with Maldon and Tiptree able to play out time with reasonable comfort. A couple of late cautions for the visitors were the only blot on the half although Behcet was again called on to show his abilities with a save to keep out Elmes's shot after the latter had been played in by Daveney. The result ensured Maldon and Tiptree finished above the proposed last three relegation places and hopefully means that they can put together a much better season than this one turned out to be.

Final score Waltham Abbey FC 0 Maldon and Tiptree FC 2

Waltham Abbey FC

James May, Joe Kizzi, Matt Bedford, Darren Williams (Jayden Purdue 84), Stef Szajewski, Jack Daveney, Ben Hart (Charlie Freeman 60), Tom Bruno, Harry Elmes, Darrelle Russell, James Peagram (Miguel Lopes De Matos 70)

Unused Substitutes

Danny Haigh, Tommy Marchant

Maldon and Tiptree FC

Darren Behcet, Danny Hayes, Mitch Hunter, Ruddock Yala, Gavin Greenfield, Phil Anderson, Jonathon Nzengo, Alberto Pinto, Tunde Adewunni (Nathan Koranteng 78), Mason Bloomfield, Alex Andrews (Alex Anderson 90)

Unused Substitutes

Matt Gulfer, Matt Pooley, Harry Palmer,