After twice being pegged back the Jammers left it late to win a very hard fought game against a strong Redbridge side.
Maldon and Tiptree snatch all three points at the death

Two minor changes for the Jammers saw Tunde Adewunmi and Hayes Thomas recalled to the starting line up with Alex Andrews joined on the bench by new signing Matt Gulfer.

Redbridge almost took a surprise sixth minute lead but Kacey Adams headed a good chance just wide after keeper Mark Parker's long free kick bounced kindly for him in the home penalty area. The Motormen's Vinny Murphy then saw his 25 metre free kick go straight at home keeper Darren Behcet before the home sides Hayes Thomas crossed for Mason Bloomfield to fire in a low shot that Parker saved very well diving low to his left. Maldon and Tiptree took a rather fortunate lead after 18 minutes when the referee adjudged that Alberto Pinto had been fouled by keeper Parker as he chased a through ball into the visitors penalty area. After lengthy protests by the visitors Nathan Koranteng put the penalty confidently away with a strong shot into the corner. Pressure from the visitors then saw home keeper Behcet do very well to twice keep out close range efforts with his feet when stuck on his goal line before Redbridge's Carlos Espirito-Santo turned well on the edge of the area before putting a good effort over the angle of bar and post. After Liam Thomas had headed an Adam Hunt free kick over the bar the visitors deservedly equalised after 30 minutes when Kacey Adams's strong run took him through two tackles before shooting a strong effort into the roof of the net. After the home side had only just defended a corner when the ball was sliced into the air for three consecutive headers ending with Thomas putting the ball into Behcet's arms the Jammers added to their goal tally right at the end of the half when Koranteng's free kick into the box was cleared out to Mitch Hunter who returned the ball for Ruddock Yala to strike home from 8 metres for his first goal for the club.

After an early scare for the home side when Gavin Greenfield's misplaced header from a cross was just kept out by Behcet's diving save, the visitors gained a fortunate second equaliser when Vinny Murphy's drive from all of 35 metres took a last minute deflection which saw the ball find the opposite corner and leave Behcet stranded. Play then became rather scrappy, not helped by a rather fussy referee, with neither side able to produce much in the way of clear goal scoring chances with the Jammers substitute Alex Andrews shot saved by Parker before the visitors Bosry Bansendie shot wide after a long free kick had given him a chance. The home side were then again thankful to keeper Behcet as firstly he turned away a fierce effort from Adams then did equally as well to block Adams's effort from the rebound. Unfortunate Jammers newcomer Matt Gulfer's substitute appearance was cut short after only ten minutes with a badly cut eye but this eventually turned out well for the home side as Alex Anderson took his place and proved later to be the match winner. Before that home substitute Alex Andrews did well to get a fine cross over that no one could get a touch to then Redbridge's Adams almost got through for a potential winner but was just denied by a last ditch tackle by Gavin Greenfield. As it was it was the home side who secured the win with a third goal after 89 minutes when substitute Alex Anderson's low free kick from the left penalty area edge deceived everyone and went first bounce into the net at the far post.

Report courtesy of Maldon & Tiptree FC