Panthers were at Park Drive for the first time this season to entertain South Woodham on a wet Sunday morning.

With Leo Ellingham, Casey Stevenson and Kieran Evans unavailable and then Kian Liyanage being unwell on the day Maldon were left with only 12 and some forced changes. George Sprawling came in to partner Ronnie Clifton at centre half, Sam Hinton coming in on the left hand side and Oliver Gilbert Bryan moving from centre half to centre forward.

Maldon started brightly playing some attractive football, moving the ball around well but lacked any killer instinct. As with last week Maldon looked dangerous down their left hand side where Ollie Leeks was pushing on well from full back. Some good combination play from him with Joe Hazell and Mason May saw Ollie Leeks find a bit of space but his through ball was slightly over hit and went out for a goal kick.

With most of the play being down Maldon’s left space was opening up on the opposite side and Daniel Emerson pushed forward but he couldn’t beat his man to get a cross in.

The best chance of the half came when Alfie Murphy played in Oliver Gilbert Bryan and his shot beat the keeper but cannoned back off the bar.

Half time came with the score all square. Maldon made a couple of tactical changes at half time with Alfie Murphy pushing forward to join Oliver Gilbert Bryan and Alfie Allum coming on at the back.

Almost immediately Maldon looked more threatening. Daniel Emerson found Mason May and with great vision he found a through ball for Alfie Murphy to run onto. Looking like he’d overrun the ball he somehow lifted it over the keeper and in at the far post.

8 minutes later Maldon had a second. Another great through ball released Alfie Murphy down the right hand side. He delivered the cross into the box but no Maldon player had got up with him, the Woodham defender cleared the ball but only as far as Joe Hazell who strode forward before driving the ball home into the bottom corner.

The final goal was the move of the game. Felix Blay played the ball back to Alfie Allum, he knocked it square to George Sprawling who played in Mason May. His ball down the left released Ollie Leeks who delivered an excellent cross for the unmarked Alfie Murphy to slide home for a great team goal.

Panthers will play much better on other days but managed to grind out a good result.