Coggeshall Town 0, Maldon & Tiptree 0

JAMMERS managed a first point of the Isthmian League season in this basement battle where quality was in short supply, including from the refree who left both sets of fans scratching their heads with some of his decision.

Nevertheless it's a start for Maldon after several false dawns and new manager Adam Flint has a start to the big task of getting Jammers off the bottom, though they still prop up the rest, two points behind Gorleston and three below their hosts.

Flint introduced new signing Roman Campbell in the number nine shirt but he was unable to make a scoring impact, though it would be fair to say over the ninety minutes Jammers always looked the more likely to break the deadlock. They were grateful oin the end for a ccouple of good saves from keeper Tom Middlehurst so on balance the final outcome was probably fair.

Both teams were lacking a degree of confidence although both pushed forward when they could.

Coggeshall had the first good chance when they fired a free kick just over the bar. Maldon then went through a spell of having the better chances. Scott Kemp had a good swivel and shot, Harvey Sayer had a goal bound shot well blocked by the Coggeshall defence and Kemp then crossed across the Coggeshall box for Brad McClenaghan to shoot over. The game ebbed and flowed and both sets of supporters were left frustrated with some of the referee decisions.

The most controversial came just before half time when Laste Dombaxe split the Coggeshall defence to put Kemp through on goal. As he raced towards the ball Coggeshall keeper Akan George came out to meet him. Both went for the ball but it was Kemp who toe-poked the ball past the keeper who then clattered into Kemp, leaving him in a heap in the penalty box.

The referee somehow gave a corner saying that the keeper had got to the ball first. This led to a very loud reaction from the large away support and even left the home supporters were mystified that they had no penalty awarded against them.

Harvey Sayer strikes towards goal.

The second half followed a similar pattern with both teams having chances. Sayer had a goalbound shot well tipped over the bar by George and a corner from the Maldon right somehow went right across the Coggeshall box without finding anybody in Maldon white.

From that near miss Coggeshall went straight up the other end and had a shot well saved by Middlehurst. Shortly after a similar pattern followed. Sam Coombes crossed for McClenaghan who put his close-range header over the bar. Again, Coggeshall went straight up the other end and Middlehurst produced a fine diving save from a Freddie King shot.

The best chance of the half probably fell to Coggeshall. Charles Heatley had a cross put onto his head but headed over from close range. That would have been tough on Maldon who created further half chances through McClenaghan and Sayer. Mention has to go to Lance Akins, Maldon's centre half, who created chaos in the Coggeshall defence with his long throws into the box.

The game ended 0-0 and at the final whistle it was the referee who was subject to most fan's thoughts, both sets being left very frustrated by his decision making and consistency.  

Maldon next face Bury St Edmunds in an away league game on Saturday, 29 October.