When the fixture list was announced for this season, one of the first matches we looked for was our home game against The Jammers, the red-hot favourites for the Isthmian North League title. It's great that the game is at the "business" end of the season and hopefully we will get a good crowd supporting both teams to add to the atmosphere.

Last season's corresponding fixture with The Jammers was played in November 2024 and therefore before their well publicised take over was completed. The game was a bit niggly with 9 yellow cards shared between the teams. Grays substitute, Matas Skarna, scored the winner, just minutes after joining the action, with a cross that beat Jammers keeper, Jamie Grossart.

Our reverse fixture this season at the Drewitt-Barlow Stadium in December, ended in a 3-1 win for our hosts. It was a good, competitive game, very well refereed and only decided in the last 10 minutes. Grays took a first half lead through Jack Stone, with Maldon and Tiptree equalising soon after courtesy of Terrell Egbri. Grays were indebted on several occasions to George Marsh for keeping the score level. However, the combination of injuries to Alex Moss and Oscar Shelvey and the introduction of substitute, Louis Dunne, earned The Jammers the win. A late goal from Tevan Allen added some gloss to the score.

The Jammers have a top manager in Kevin Horlock, appointed just over a year ago, supported by the experienced Pip Boyland and Liam Bailey. The owners' ambitions are clear and they have provided the means to build the most impressive playing squad in this division. With the expectation of promotion comes a huge pressure but they have managed this really well and entering the home straight they are in a close fight with Felixstowe and Walton.

Their home form in particular has been superb, winning 15 and drawing 2 of their 17 games. Only Wroxham and Stanway left with a point. When Felixstowe visited a couple of weeks ago in a top-of-the-table clash, they were swept away 4-0 by The Jammers, dealing a blow to their rivals.

The Jammers visit us in 2nd place. They are 3 points behind Felixstowe and Walton with two games in hand and a better goal difference, so they are in the box seat. After Saturday, a home game with free scoring Bowers and Pitsea is sandwiched between two tricky midweek visits to Norfolk, as they play Wroxham and then Gorleston.

Following a short trip to Witham, they host Takeley, before an Easter Monday derby at Scraley Road against Heybridge Swifts. Their campaign finishes with home games against Mildenhall and Gorleston before a final game away at Walthamstow.

Top Scorers

Former West Ham and Colchester United forward, Freddie Sears leads the way, not just for Maldon and Tiptree, but in the division with 28 goals (23 of which were scored in the league). Anisius Lewis has added to his growing reputation with 16 goals (15) including The Jammers goal in the FA Cup 1st Round, at Port Vale (the only goal Vale have conceded in their amazing cup run). Tevan Allen has scored 9 (7).

Squad Changes

Since our last meeting, Maldon and Tiptree snapped up Bowers leading scorer, Mikey Faulkner. He has already scored 6 times in the League for them, bringing his total to 23 (22) for the season. Also joining The Jammers was Bilal Sayoud who had been playing for Haringey Borough in Step 5. Bilal will be more familiar to supporters from his season and a half at Walthamstow where he scored 20 times from midfield in 58 league appearances.

Departing were forward, Macauley Bonne, who has joined a Billericay Town side in tremendous form in the Isthmian Premier. Courtney Senior also left and joined Farnborough, who are in a scrap to avoid relegation from National League South. They have also loaned out Zak Littlejohn and Ollie Fraser to Stanway Rovers.

Recent Form

Maldon's last 6 games have seen them W3 D2 L1 with 15 goals scored and 6 conceded.
In their last 6 away games the record is W2 D2 L2 with 8 goals scored and 8 conceded. Surprisingly, they are without a win in their last 4 away games.
Grays last 6 games have seen us W2 D1 L3 with 4 goals scored and 6 goals conceded.
In our last 6 home games the record is W3 L3 with 6 goals scored and 5 conceded.

Last Time

Maldon and Tiptree suffered a 3-1 loss at Waltham Abbey, who avenged two losses earlier this season. Abbey opened the scoring early in the second half through Ben Baker, but The Jammers were level 7 minutes later as Freddie Sears poached a goal after a corner was not cleared. However, Waltham came back again with former Grays player, Kai Brown, scoring twice.

For Grays, Tuesday evening saw us host Wroxham. A very tight first half ended with debutant Ethan Cann getting a straight red for preventing a goal scoring opportunity. It was the correct decision but a shame for Ethan, who had played well on debut up to that point.

The second half saw 10 man Grays put up a fine defensive performance. Oscar Shelvey dropped back to centre half, (our 11th centre half this season, if you are wondering). Crucially, we managed to offer a threat up front to relieve the pressure. Substitute Caiden Ellis Remy-Dee scored late on with a tremendous shot for his first goal for The Blues and three priceless points. Another bonus was more minutes for Harry Hope and a welcome return at the very end of the game for Kye Jude as he works his way back to full fitness.

Summary

This is going to be a tough assignment for The Blues having given so much on Tuesday evening, but it is one we can look forward to with more self belief than a few weeks ago.

The Jammers will be keen to bounce back from their defeat at Waltham and know they can't afford a slip up at the EMR. They have already played at the EMR this season, beating Tilbury 3-1 on 3rd January, which was their last victory on the road.

Grays have a little breathing space to the bottom four and following the game on Saturday, our next two league games are a tricky looking trip to Downham and then a full on 6 pointer at Mildenhall Town. Therefore, anything we can get out of our game with The Jammers will be a big bonus.

We really need all our supporters joining us at the EMR on Saturday and getting fully behind the lads. It's a game not to miss.

COYB!