It’s All A Bit Weird, Innit?
Those were the words from Kevin Horlock after Maldon & Tiptree all-but sealed the Isthmian North title on Saturday. A second commanding win over Gorleston in 3 days leaves The Jammers three points clear at the top with +15 better goal difference over Felixstowe & Walton United with one game to play.
Knowing that a win could officially seal the title, Maldon started like a house on fire in front of more than 1,500 at the Drewitt- Barlow Stadium.
Terrell Egbri got the party started with 12 minutes played. A quick goal kick from Eliott Justham set Maldon away down the left-hand side. Freddie Sears laid off to the overlapping Matt Yates who carried the ball forward before passing to Mikey Faulkner. His ball across the box was picked up by Egbri who drilled past Travis Canham to give Maldon the perfect start.
That goal alleviated any pre-match nerves among the crowd as Maldon put their foot down. Sears saw his cross nearly turned into his own net by Dion Frary, the Gorleston man will have been relieved to see the ball bobble behind for a corner.
Gorleston were breached again with 23 minutes gone when Cameron James drove into the box before putting the ball on a plate for Ross Wall who couldn’t miss from four yards out.
The visitors were restricted to half chances for most of the afternoon. Joe Marsden’s shot from distance was comfortably fielded by Justham as the half ended with the hosts two goals to the good.
The second half was a carbon-copy of the first. On the hour mark, the game was put to bed by Faulkner.
It was a trademark finish from the Jammers man, dancing down the left-hand side and into the box but unleashing a whipped finish by Canham.
The only thing missing was the flake on top.
Four minutes later, the afternoon was capped off. And in some style as Matt Yates scored the pick of the goals. He and Wall played a one-two with the marauding full-back carrying on his run, skipping through a sea of flailing pink shirts and smashing the ball high into the net with his left foot.
It was a fitting reward for one of the most consistent players of the season and one who had been at the club before the Drewitt-Barlow revolution.
Luke Johnson did grab a consolation for Gorleston with twenty three minutes left, but that was as good as it got for the side from Norfolk on a day that belonged to Maldon & Tiptree.
The full-time whistle saw an explosion of noise, colour and confetti. With the job as good as done, the players took centre stage, celebrating a season that many had dreamed about for years but never dared thought would come to pass.
Felixstowe’s win over Concord Rangers means Horlock’s side will have to wait until the final day to be officially crowned champions- barring some mathematical miracles (or disasters from a Jammers perspective).
After three play-off final defeats, a global pandemic and a few seasons of looking over their shoulders towards Step 5, a few more days’ wait for confirmation will be more than worth it.
It *is* all a bit weird, innit? But sometimes, weird is great.
Match report written by Lee Witney, published on Monday 20 April 2026.
