Maldon and Tiptree FC v Mildenhall Town FC Saturday 19 January 2019 Bostik League One North

Jammers boss Wayne Brown made just one change from last Saturday's game against Grays Athletic with new signing Jorome Slew included in place of Michael Brothers.

Played on an ideal surface the game started at a fast pace with Maldon and Tiptree quickly settling into a fine display of passing football, mainly along the ground, with Kojo Awotwi getting in a good cross from the right that was just cleared before Bobert Girdlestone threatened down the opposite flank but again his cross was just cleared. The visitors then put in a quick break that saw Emmanuel Osei-Owuso playing in Thomas Debenham but his shot from 20 metres flew way over before the Jammers Matthew Briggs hit just wide from just outside the penalty area then Jorome Slew dribbled across the edge of the penalty area before firing in a shot that flew just wide. The home sides pressure told after 21 minutes when Briggs and Stephane Ngamvoulou combined well before putting Slew away down the left side of the penalty area and he fired home across visiting keeper Blake Horton and into the far corner. The Jammers now started to dominate the game with a fast free flowing style that cut through the visitors defence with a free kick headed back for Laste Dombaxe to hit over before a home penalty, awarded for a foul tackle, saw Dombaxe's rather weak spot kick well saved by Horton. Not to be deterred Maldon and Tiptree did increase their lead after 30 minutes when a great passing move again involving Ngamvoulou and Briggs ended with a super low cross which found Kojo Awotwi in the penalty area and he fired home strongly from 8 metres. The visitors continued with their attempts to also play a good passing game and briefly threatened the home goal when a free kick into the home penalty area saw a goal bound shot just blocked before Osei-Owuso saw his low shot from from the edge of the penalty area saved by home keeper Ben McNamara. The home side did continue to have the majority of play and passed up a number of scoring chances before adding to their total with a third goal after 42 minutes which owed almost everything to Awotwi's bravery and persistence. After chasing down a long clearance in what looked a lost cause he managed to block the defenders attempt to clear the ball which saw the it rebound off the post to land at Awotwi's feet for him to push the ball home from a narrow angle. Just on half time Briggs again got to the by line before getting over another dangerous cross that was just cleared before another good passing move ended with Mildenhall keeper Horton coming out bravely to save at Eddie-Louis Dsane's feet.

Half Time Maldon and Tiptree FC 3 Mildenhall Town FC 0

Two half time substitutions by Mildenhall seemed to have given the visitors a stronger line up and although the home side continued to play the ball around well they were faced with a more determined and tougher opponent. The home sides Briggs and Awotwi featured early on and soon attacked down each flank but saw their crosses cleared before a quick break by the Jammers saw Awotwi running strongly into the visitors penalty area before seeing his strong shot just saved by Horton. Another great run down the right by Awotwi ended with a fine ball across to Briggs who saw his strong 25 metre drive flash just wide then Dsane just failed to get a touch to a cross along the goal area line. Mildenhall then featured briefly in attack with a good passing move ending with a shot that some thought had entered the net but had in fact hit the side netting before Jarid Robson's block gave him a shooting chance that he put over then Robson saw his diving header from Thomas Debenham's cross go narrowly high and wide. The home sides Awotwi then beat the visitors offside line to go clear before his pull back from the by line was just held by Horton before the same player beat 2 men in a fine dribble before lobbing to the far post where his effort just grazed the far upright. Jammers substitute Michael Brothers then did well down the left before playing a cross into Dsane who saw his low shot just stopped by Horton's boot for the ball to fly up and go just over the bar. The home sides attacks continued to come and Jack Cawley headed a chance just over the bar before Briggs's lofted centre ran along the top of the cross bar before falling to safety then a further goal came for the Jammers after 73 minutes. There appeared little danger as the ball was held amongst a group of players just outside the penalty box but Brothers spotted a shooting opportunity and lifted a 20 metre effort over Horton and into the roof of the net. Awotwi continued to be at the centre of things for the home side and his strong running often took him past his opponents as he again showed before playing in Tobi Coker who's shot on the turn was well held by Horton to prevent a further goal. As the game started to run down Cawley got up well to put another header just over the bar before a fine run by Dombaxe past a number of visiting defenders ended with his shot from the penalty area edge go over. Mildenhall's reward for a better second half performance came after 88 minutes when a long hanging cross seemed to be misjudged by McNamara with the result that the ball dropped onto the head of Robson and into the net. Not to be outdone the home side maintained the four goal advantage almost on 90 minutes when Coker put Awotwi through down the right and his expert low cross was put home by Slew.

Final score Maldon and Tiptree FC 5 Mildenhall Town FC 1

Jammers next match is away to Brentwood Town on FRIDAY 25 January KO 7.45 pm

Jammers next home match is on 2 February against Bury Town KO 3 pm