Jammers Cover Spread To Continue Play Off Push - Maldon And Tiptree vs. Wroxham

View from the bank at Park Drive

I'd been planning to come to Maldon and Tiptree several times over the last couple of seasons but I'd always been frustrated by engineering works but last weekend the frustration was finally broken. The Jammers were at home to Wroxham in a Ryman Division One North match where they needed the points to cement their play off spot. Defeats to Cheshunt and fellow Essex side Brentwood had ended their title challenge and so their focus was now on the play offs. Wroxham had unfortunately been relegated the other week and were in a tussle with Great Wakering not to finish bottom. I'd visited their leafy Trafford Park home for an East Anglian match up with Needham Market a couple of Easters ago. The closest I'd come to seeing Maldon and Tiptree was a visit across the river to see Heybridge last season.

Kick off at Park Drive

In the opening minutes, both sides get dangerous balls into the box which force the respective defenses to hack the ball away from danger. Maldon take the lead midway through the half when the Maldon attacker turns his man before lashing in a great shot from distance past the Wroxham keeper. Maldon have a chance to double their advantage as the forward is played in on goal and the Wroxham keeper does well the block to subsequent effort on goal. Wroxham's first effort on goal is a free kick from the edge of the area which the Maldon goalie is equal to. Maldon then put together a brilliant passing move before the Wroxham keeper is able to smoother the resulting shot on goal. In the closing moments of the half, Maldon double their lead. The attacker beats the offside trap before slotting home.

The Wroxham keeper is first to the ball

The Maldon keeper appears to be in a generous mood at the start of the second half as he misskicks a ball in but the Wroxham forward drags his shot wide. The game then threatens to peter out before the Wroxham keeper is forced in a great save after a crossfield plays the Maldon man in. The home side do get the third goal when they break out following a Wroxham free kick and the Maldon player is played in and he makes it three nil.

The Maldon full back crosses in

To get to Maldon from London, you first need to take a train from Chelmsford from Liverpool which takes about forty minutes. Then from the bus station just next door, you take the 31 bus to Maldon and this portion takes half an hour. Maldon is a lovely place and it worth getting there early for a walk by the ships on the waterfront (or mudfront if the tide is out). Then pub wide, the first stop has to be The Mighty Oak Tap Room where I had a great pint of Maldon Gold. A short walk along the High Street takes you to the small but ale rich Farmers Yard. Here I had a bottle of the Puck's Folly and there is also a decent selection of ales from the brewery as well as a couple of guest ales. If you just want to watch the football then The Warwick does the job. There were also a couple of decent looking pubs by the water. The ground is then a short walk from the town. The clubhouse has a good selection of lagers and the food is also top notch. Ideally I would have spent sometime post match in Maldon but I may had struggled to find my home if I had.

First half action with the clubhouse in the background