Goals Seal The Title!
It was the day Maldon & Tiptree had waited years for. Six years after having the league title ripped away by the covid pandemic, the Jammers finally got their hands on the Isthmian North title.
The match against Walthamstow was merely a side show to the main event.
Thankfully for anyone of a nervous disposition, the hard work was done last week as Maldon let a 2-0 slip at Wadham Lodge and with it, the chance of finishing the season as centurions.
A slow start to the game nearly exploded into life four minutes in when Freddie Sears smashed the crossbar. Chances continued to come for the visitors, with Walthamstow goalkeeper David Hughes called into action to deny Sears, just about gathering the rebound too.
Sears eventually got his goal as Maldon were awarded a penalty just after the half hour. The Jammers marksman made no mistake, sending Hughes the wrong way to open the scoring.
Stow nearly equalised in spectacular fashion through Brian Garzon, but his brilliant shot on the turn cannoned back off the woodwork just before the break.
At the start of the second half, Eliott Justham was twice called into action to preserve the Jammers’ lead as he saved well from Callum Ibe and Chris Regis.
Those saves looked to have taken on even greater significance ten minutes later as Maldon doubled their lead. A long sweeping ball from Sears found Matt Yates marauding forward.
The bounce of the ball deceived Hughes, allowing Yates to round him and slide home. It was two in two for the Jammers defender who was making the latest of late runs for the Golden Boot.
With the Jammers party in full swing, Walthamstow pounced to gatecrash it. Garzon gave Stow a way back into the game two minutes later when he tapped home Regis’ cross.
They were level seven minutes later through Jordan Peart’s strike and with four minutes left, Fermat Canlier completed the comeback as he turned the ball home.
While it was goal difference that officially saw Maldon over the line, last week’s double win over Gorleston was the dagger that finally broke Felixstowe’s hearts.
Our congratulations go to the Seasiders on a wonderful season and a valiant title fight.
In the end, nothing was going to spoil the Maldon party as the final whistle saw the hundreds of travelling fans, players, coaches and owners celebrating long into the night.
Match report written by Lee Witney, published on Monday 27 April 2026.
