Brightlingsea Regent 3 - Maldon & Tiptree 0

Maldon & Tiptree's wait for a first League win of the season goes on after a comprehensive defeat away to Brightlingsea Regent on Saturday afternoon.

Manager Liam Bailey handed debuts to Jayden Randell, Harrison Chatting and Louis Britton - all of whom have joined since the last League game two weeks ago. There was also a start in goal for Luca Collins as the Jammers looked to build on some positive performances in recent weeks.

The match took a while to get going, but it was Maldon that created the first half chance of the afternoon just after the 20 minute mark when good pressing from Chatting forced the turnover. He took the shot on himself, but fired just over the bar from distance.

A couple of minutes later, it was Regent who nearly took the lead, as Olly Sotoyinbo found space in the box and clipped a shot over the onrushing Luca. Fortunately for Maldon, his shot was just a bit too high and the ball bounced off the crossbar and away.

On the half hour, Regent were denied by the woodwork again when Manny Ogunrinde burst into the box and cracked his effort against the post. As a fully paid up member of the Goalkeeper's Union, I'm saying Luca definitely got a touch to it...

(Credit: Roy Warner)

The hosts were gradually establishing more of a stranglehold on the game and with 38 minutes on the board, they took the lead. Another ball through the middle was pounced on by Agyakwa, who made no mistake to lift the ball over Collins to the delight of the home fans who were in fine voice all afternoon.

It was nearly 2-0 a couple of minutes later as Ogunrinde tried to repeat Agyakwa's trick, but his effort landed the wrong side of the post (from a Regent perspective, at least) and Maldon were reprieved. Ogunrinde had a golden opportunity just before half-time, beating Randell to the ball on the bounce before putting his effort into the car park.

Within minute's of the start of the second half, Regent had loud appeals for a penalty turned down by the referee.

(Credit: Roy Warner)

Maldon managed to work their way into the second period and were denied an equaliser by the woodwork on 55 minutes. Britton beat the offside trap and put a great ball in from the right where he found Remi who managed to get a shot away in spite of close attention from the defence. The Jammers man took a heavy blow for his troubles as his shot cannoned back of the post.

With an hour gone, Brightlingsea were awarded a penalty after a push in the Maldon box from a corner. Sotoyinbo stepped up and buried the ball high to Luca's right to double the lead for the hosts.

The hosts looked comfortable, playing the ball about well and making Maldon work for any possession they had.

(Credit: Roy Warner)

Then with 15 minutes left, they put the game to bed in spectacular fashion thanks to an absolute worldie from Agyakwa as he unleashed a thunderbolt from the outside of the box, leaving Collins with no chance as the ball nestled into the top left of his net. You could only stand and applaud it, it was a stunning goal.

Minutes later, they nearly did it again to make it four but a carbon copy of Agyakwa's effort smashed of the underside of the crossbar and bounced away.

With five minutes left, the Jammers forced keeper Lewis Greene into his first meaningful save of the afternoon thanks to a fierce effort from centre back Gipson who'd broken into the Regent box.

(Credit: Roy Warner)

The hosts had once last chance to ice the cake in the dying minutes, but again found the crossbar in the way as a header from corner was the latest effort to test the resolve of the woodwork.

A silly second yellow for Charlie Durling in stoppage time for dragging back Andre Hassanally couldn't spoil what had been a largely routine afternoon for Brightlingsea.

The Jammers look to regroup and welcome Enfield to Park Drive next Saturday as we look to kickstart our season.

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