Maldon & Tiptree 4 Redbridge 2

A double from Maldon & Tiptree's Terrell Egbri helped the Jammers past a stubborn Redbridge in another entertaining clash between the 2 sides at Park Drive on Saturday afternoon.

It was Redbridge who took the spoils in the reverse fixture with the last kick of the game back in October, winning a barn burner of a game 4-3.

There was a familiar returning face in the Jammers' back 4 with Jayden Randell's loan signing being confirmed prior to kick off. He came into the team in place of Frankie Edwards.

Maldon's bright start was rewarded with an early lead as Redbridge defender Bradley Bennett turned Milton Oni's cross into his own net after Jammers' man Shane Temple initially miskicked to make it 1-0.

It was nearly 2 with just 5 minutes on the clock when Redbridge's Mekael Williams mis-read the bounce on Alfie Mason's long clearance, allowing Egbri to nip in and get a shot away. Williams recovered well to block Egbri's effort and the ball came back to George Smith who had another go on goal but keeper Connor Wheatley stood up well to save.

A long Redbridge through ball nearly caught the hosts out with 15 minutes gone as the ball was taken away from Luca Collins who'd come to collect, but the Jammers' keeper recovered well to force the striker wide and shoot into the side netting.

Another Jammers chance narrowly came and went after 21 minutes when a pinpoint pass from Collins found Egbri on the left hand side.

He took the ball down and crossed into Smith in the box, who with his back to goal, turned and poked the ball goalwards only for it to clip the bar and go behind.

Maldon were in complete control of proceedings, but just couldn't find the all important second goal to give them some breathing space.

Another chance was spurned with 10 minutes of the first half left, when Temple and Matt Yates combined down the right hand side, the former playing the latter in, allowing Yates to cross in for Harry Phillips who side footed wide at the back post.

Just before the half time break, Maldon eventually got the 2nd goal their dominance had merited in stunning fashion. Smith played the ball out wide to Egbri, who was confronted by Bennett on the edge of the box. Egbri unleashed a curling effort that found the top far corner and clipped the underside of the bar and bounced into the roof of the net for one of the most aesthetically pleasing goals you'll ever see.

Half time probably came too early for Maldon, who were 2 goals to the good and seemingly in complete control of the contest.

Whatever the Redbridge manager said to his players at half time worked a treat as the Motormen came flying out of the traps in the 2nd 45.

Within 5 minutes of the restart, Soumen Nandi fired home a long range spectacular of his own to halve the deficit at 2-1.

The visitors had found their groove, and 8 minutes later, Solomon Ogunwomoju leveled things up as headed home at the back post.

Redbridge continued to apply pressure on the Maldon goal and a free kick deflected off the wall for a corner that was well dealt with by Collins.

Eventually, the hosts woke up and got a foothold in the game and with 65 minutes gone might've taken the lead as Phillips went through on goal and squared it to Smith, but his touch let him down and the chance was gone.

Smith wouldn't have to wait long to grab the goal his usual effort and work rate more than deserved. Some slick passing in the middle from Chatting and Oni saw Yassine El-Neyah take the ball before laying to an overlapping Phillips whose cross found the head of Smith who guided it home to restore Maldon's lead with 14 minutes left.

Egbri's second of the afternoon just 2 minutes later sealed the points for Maldon after a clearance from a Redbridge corner found Smith in his own half with Egbri in support against one Redbridge defender. Smith raced away before squaring to Egbri who was in acres of space on the left hand side and drove the ball through Wheatley's hands to the delight of the Maldon faithful.

It might've been another grandstand finish between these 2 sides but for a genuinely world class save from Collins with a little over 5 minutes left. The shot from the Redbridge player (in the excitement of the save, I forgot to see who shot) was punched into the ground and looked to be looping over Collins as it made its way through a thicket of bodies, only for the Jammers' keeper to leap out of nowhere like a spawning salmon to tip the ball onto the bar with his top hand. Magnificent. Sensational. World class. And I'm not talking about the burgers this week.

The win moves us up to 6th, 2 points outside the playoffs ahead of Tuesday night's Essex Senior cup quarter-final at home to Little Oakley and Saturday's trip to Gorleston at Great Yarmouth.

Wonder if Pleasurewood Hills is still open…….?