Maldon & Tiptree FC v Hashtag United – Friday 21st January 2022 – Park Drive – Tea, Cake and Football

For the second Friday running, I went to an Isthmian League North game involving Maldon & Tiptree FC. This time they were at home, playing Hashtag United who sitting in eighth place, were four points above Maldon & Tiptree, although having played three games more.

The Park Drive ground holds capacity for 2800 fans, with 155 seated. It was opened in 1994 and has a seated covered stand on one side of the pitch and a covered standing area behind one of the goals.

The Jammers, as Maldon & Tiptree are known, are without manager Wayne Brown, as he has temporarily departed to take interim control at Colchester United. Three new signings were available for the match tonight, with Joshua Green and Dequane Wilson-Braithwaite joining from St Neots Town and Rob Lacey joining from East Thurrock United. In the end only Lacey made the match day squad.

Courtesy of Maldon & Tiptree FC Twitter Page.

Courtesy of Hashtag United FC Twitter Page

Maldon and Tiptree FC took to the pitch in red and blue striped shirts and blue shorts. Hashtag United played in white shirts and black shorts.

The game kicked off with Hashtag United FC going straight into the attack. On 14 minutes Maldon & Tiptree’s Akolbire was sent off for handling a shot in the area. The penalty was converted by Hashtag United’s Sam Bantick to make it 0-1 to the away side.

0-1

The game continued with both sides creating Chances at both ends. On 37 minutes the referee reduced Maldon & Tiptree to nine players, when Ngandu was dismissed after abusing the referee, after a penalty claim was turned down.

Hashtag United went close, creating good chances while Maldon & Tiptree FC acclimatised to operating with two players short of the eleven. At the break, the crowd of 436 went in, with the game hanging in the balance.

As the second half started, Hashtag United held the ball and tried to build steadily for an elusive second goal, but the Maldon & Tiptree keeper, Dixon-Hodge, kept them in the game, with save after save.

As the game ended it was the home side who began to look more dangerous. However at the final whistle it was Hashtag United who pipped “the Jammers” to the three points.