Maldon & Tiptree 2, Stowmarket Town 3

The frustration goes on for Jammers fans who have yet to see their side pick up even a point in the Isthmian League North this season - and this was doubly agonising as at one point Maldon held a two goal lead.

The Jammers welcomed new signing Ashlee Jones in goal for the clash on saturday, 15 October but he was very much a spectator in the early stages.

The home side belied their lowly league position in the first half did most of the pressing forward.

They were rewarded on 17 minutes when Brad Ihionvien was fouled 25 yards from the Stowmarket goal and Laste Dombaxe curled a great free kick into the corner of the opposition goal.

Maldon continued to push forward, with Stowmarket creating only the odd half-chance.

And on 27 minutes Maldon were firmly in the driving seat when Harvey Sayer picked up the ball on the right and pushed towards the Stowmarket goal. He curled another great shot into the goal to give Stowmarket keeper James Bradbrook no chance.

Maldon seemed to get a little nervy as half time approached. The game changed on 43 minutes, when Maldon gave the ball away cheaply and Josh Curry was given free run to the Maldon goal and comfortably beat Jones.

The second half started quite evenly and both teams had half-chances.

But the game changed totally when, on 62 minutes, the referee very harshly awarded a penalty to Stowmarket, when Scott Kemp made an innocuous challenge in the box. The decision left the Maldon team and supporters mystified and salt went into the wounds as Reggie Lambe coolly slotted home the spot kick to level the scores.

From this point, there only looked one winner and it was no surprise when, on 67 minutes, a pinpoint Stowmarket cross found an unmarked Jack Ainsley who headed home to put Stowmarket 3-2 up.

The Jammers did push forward in the last 10 minutes but created little - and their hopes of levelling ended when Jake Giddings put their last half-chance over the bar.

Maldon will face Coggeshall in an away league game next Saturday (22 October).