All’s Fairs In Love & War
Maldon & Tiptree regained top spot in the Isthmian North on Saturday, but were made to work for the three points by a stubborn Witham Town side.
The Jammers started the game well on a difficult pitch, dominating large parts of the opening stages although they struggled to test Harry Fairs in the Witham goal.
Freddie Sears blazed high over the bar with fifteen minutes gone, but was spared by the offside flag.
It was the hosts who took the lead against the run of play with ten minutes of the first half remaining. Liam Whipps’ long ball forward found Sam Bantick. He knocked it down into the path of Ben Allen and under pressure from the retreating Tom Eastman, made no mistake to fire past Elliot Justham.
With just minutes to go until half time, the game completely turned on its head. A long ball forward from Sears seemed to be a routine pick-up for Fairs. Bizarrely, he attempted his best René Higuita impression with some keepy-ups in his box. It went horribly wrong as he miscontrolled, allowing Terrell Egbri to nip in and steal the ball. Desperate to make amends, Fairs only succeeded in bringing Egbri down.
The referee pointed to the spot and Fairs was sent off. In the ensuing chaos, captain Ryan Mallett took the gloves as another Town player attempted to dig up the penalty spot.
It was all in vain, however as Sears smashed the ball into the top left to bring the Jammers level.
With the momentum and numerical advantage, Maldon started the second half looking to put the game to bed early. Ross Wall teed up Dylan Williams, but his strike from the edge of the box was well blocked.
Witham were doing their best to disrupt any rhythm the game might pick up.
With time drifting away, it was starting to look like those tactics might pay off. That was until the 87th minute when Anisius Lewis struck what might prove to be a priceless winner.
Anthony Wordsworth’s ball through found the Jammers’ marksman and he made mistake, firing low and hard into the bottom far corner past the stand-in goalkeeper.
Into added time and there was still time for the referee to even the red card count. A tussle between Lewis and Witham’s Rowing Dorling saw both men end up on the floor, the Witham man went down clutching his face and that was all the encouragement the referee needed to send the Maldon forward for an early bath.
Now pushing for an equaliser, Witham were denied a late, late goal by the outstretched Justham to push the ball away.
The final whistle signalled an explosion of noise and colour from the travelling Jammers faithful and with Felixstowe dropping points at home to Downham, Kevin Horlock’s side regained top spot on goal difference ahead of a crucial Easter double header.
It wasn’t the prettiest game, but as Ian Holloway once said: “let’s have a coffee”.
Match report written by Lee Witney, published on 31 March 2026.
