A quick fire double from ex Jammers man Harvey Sayer left Lowestoft Town singing in the rain after a biblical rain storm threatened to see the match abandoned.

Interim Jammers boss Liam Bailey made one change from the team that came through an FA Cup replay with West Essex on Tuesday night as Louie Remi came into the team for Adam Topley.

There was an early setback for Maldon when skipper Michael Finneran was forced off with injury after just 9 minutes. With no centre back option on the bench, Lewis Jaggs was forced into the backline as Finneran made way for Adam Topley whose afternoon off was cut short.

The hosts quickly looked to seize on the Jammers misfortune, creating a number of half chances, firstly Jake Reed had a shot blocked and then Harvey Sayer shot wide having cut in and getting his effort away from distance.

The Jammers first efforts on goal came with 25 minutes played. Andre Hassanally’s effort from just outside the box was straight into the waiting arms of goalkeeper Luke Holt.

Maldon’s best chance of the game thus far came moments later when Terrell Egbri delivered a peach of a cross that was headed wide by George Smith.

With half an hour on the clock, Lowestoft made the breakthrough and it was Sayer who yet again came back to haunt his old team. A freekick on Maldon’s right hand byline was whipped in and- in spite of Kyle Haylock’s attempts to glance it home- sailed all the way in to give the hosts the lead.

With the rain turning into something that’d have made Noah think twice about going out, things got worse for Maldon 5 minutes later when Billy Willis felled Adam Hipperson in the box for a penalty which was dispatched by Sayer, sending Middlehurst the wrong way for his second of the afternoon.

Soon after the referee suspended the game and it looked to be in doubt for a while. After 20 mins, the match resumed and as an added bonus, I’d completed my 50 metre front crawl badge.

The break in play seemed to halt Lowestoft’s momentum and Maldon managed to create some half chances with Alex Moss heading over soon after the restart and Louie Remi seeing a shot deflected wide.

Ten minutes before half time, there were huge shouts for a Maldon penalty for a handball, but the referee was unmoved.

Just before the break, things might have got even worse for the Jammers when Lowestoft had a goal ruled out for offside. Sayer again cutting in and firing a shot in that was scrambled home only to be denied by the flag.

The second half began where the first half had ended, with Lowestoft marginally on top. Sayer put a great ball in that Hipperson couldn’t latch onto and with an hour on the clock, Haylock drew a fine save from Middlehurst one on one.

The big Maldon goalkeeper had to be alert again seconds later from a corner as Travis Cole found unmarked in the box. He punched his header into the ground, only for Middlehurst to tip the ball over as it looked to be nestling into the roof of the net.

Alex Clark, on as a sub looked the most likely to make something happen late on for Maldon. His cross-come-shot was palmed away by Holt, the ball was only scrambled away as far as Remi who fired wide.

Maldon nearly found a bizarre way back into the match with 20 minutes left when Hasanally’s inswinging comer hit the top of the crossbar. Shades of Katie McCabe against Canada.

The home side nearly added a 3rd with 15 minutes left, Jake Reed played in Rhys Logan down the left hand side and his ball across was put wide by Haylock with the help of the foot of Jaggs.

Good work from Clark to win the ball back and then drive at the host’s defence should’ve been rewarded with a goal, but he dragged his effort wide.

The final chance of the afternoon fell Jaggs’ way, heading a freekick from Hassanally onto the post in stoppage time.

Next up for the Jammers is a bank holiday Monday visit from Grays with both sides looking to kickstart their season.