A much improved performance wasn’t enough to prevent Maldon & Tiptree exiting a 3rd cup competition in as many games, losing 2-1 away to Bowers & Pitsea on Tuesday evening.

Following defeats to Biggleswade and Witham Town in the FA Cup and FA Trophy respectively, manager Liam Bailey made a raft of changes with Luca Collins and Joe Turpin coming in for their first starts of the season and Guy Norton, Callum Stringer, Alex Clark and Louie Remi also coming into the starting lineup.

The Jammers started well and within the opening moments of the game, caused concern for Bowers from some set pieces, Myles Baiden unable to control a long throw at the back post and captain Joe Turpin unable to get his head to a corner.

With 10 minutes on the clock, some quick thinking and a pinpoint long ball from Collins released Remi down the right. He played a lovely ball in to Shane Temple who raced through on goal, his shot bringing a great save from David Hughes in the Bowers goal who was sporting a sensational 90’s throwback kit. A real highlight of the season so far.

Still Maldon came forward, showing intensity and willing. A great headed flick on from Temple put Harry Phillips in and his cross field ball found Remi at the back post, but his shot hit the side netting.

The impressive Temple again nearly turned provider, his through ball was brought under control by Clark, but his shot on the turn just shaved the wrong side of the post.

The first shot across the ‘Bowers’ from the home side came just before the 20th minute from Benas Vaivada, but he was denied by an outstanding flying Collins, diving away to his right to push away a certain goal.

With 25 minutes gone, Maldon’s luck deserted them again. Malakai Hyman controlled a long throw-in on the 6 yard box and his shot took a wicked deflection to wrong foot Collins and put the hosts ahead.

Maldon pressed ahead and again forced Hughes into work, Remi cut in from the right and got a shot away on his left that Hughes couldn’t hold. With players following in, he cleared the ball out with his foot while still on the ground.

More good Maldon play nearly created another opening with 10 minutes of the first half left. Clark with silk-like control brought the ball out of the night sky but his cross across the face of goal was cleared away by a scrambling Hyman for a corner which came to nothing.

If the Jammers felt hard done by to be 1-0 down, going 2-0 was a kick to the guts, but with 5 minutes to go until half time, Hyman doubled his and Bowers’ tally as he fired into Collins’ far post from the edge of the box after a corner was only half cleared.

Half time came with Maldon wondering how they were behind with the home team taking the few chances they’d managed to create.

Maldon finally got their reward just after the break through Remi. His neat footwork created a yard of space and took full advantage, letting fly with a curling left footed effort that gave Huges no chance as the ball nestled into the net at the far post,

More spectacular goalkeeping from Luca kept the Jammers in touch as he made another full length diving save to his right denying Jack Thompson and then tipped a Lewis Chambers header from a freekick over the bar.

With 20 minutes left, a freekick into the Bowers box hit Frankie Edwards but spun away from goal. If we didn’t have bad luck, we’d have no luck at all……

With the lashing down and getting my hair wet, the hosts should have made sure of victory with 10 minutes to go. Collins was unable to hold a long range freekick, but the rebound from Hyman crashed off the underside of the bar and bounced away.

That proved to be the last chance of note of the game. We may not have got the win, but there are certainly plenty of positives to build upon going into Saturday’s away trip to Walthamstow.