JAMMERS MARCH ON

If you are facing a team who have swept all before them winning all their league games, the last thing you do is gift them a two goal start but that's precisely what a patched up Grays did at Park Lane on Saturday. A goal three minutes after kick off and a second two minutes before half time consigned Blues to playing catch up football. A second half revival of sorts produced a goal, but Maldon made sure of the points with a well crafted third, in stark contrast to their openers which once again came about through defensive errors. To further compound their misery Jack McQueen was given a straight red when the official deemed him the last man when committing a foul, but it seemed harsh given Steve King appeared to be in a position to make a challenge. Jim Cooper was forced to reshuffle the pack in the absence of injuries to Lewis Clark, Ashley Miller, and long term injury victim Tony Stokes and the suspended Stan Muguo , McQueen played through the pain barrier after a fitness test as did Lewis Dark. Forward Michael Pindy played in an unfamiliar midfield role . Maldon though are a very accomplished outfit who play an expansive game and it did look ominous when they scored early governing possession, but as the half progressed Blues adjusted seeing more of the ball and had Joao Carlos managed to connect with a George Purcell cross, failing to slide home by the finest of margins then it might have been a different story.

The game had barely started when the Jammers opened the scoring - there seemed little danger when an innocuous long ball was misjudged by King the ball dropped over his head presenting Jerome Slew with the simplest of chances to slot past Danny Sambridge.

The goal disrupted Blues rhythm and energy leading to a period of sustained pressure on their goal. Clearly the plan was to allow Maldon the ball in their own half drop deep and hit them on the break, but to do that you first have to frustrate and harass and make good use of the ball when possession is won, sadly Blues failed to do just that in the early stages.

Maldon were winning a succession of corners and free kicks, putting further pressure on an overworked Blues defence, but they were hanging on when things were tricky, managing to keep their goal intact.

Purcell had Blues first opportunity when his venomous strike warmed Ben McNamara hands, but the Jammers continued to pass the ball precisely keeping Sambridge busy making a number of vital stops.

Recovering from their shaky start Maldon found steeliness in Blues resistance, allowing them to create a chance that should have restored parity. A slick passage of play featured Luke Callander, Purcell sprang onto his strike partners deft pass - reaching the bye line he whipped in a low cross just evading the outstretched boot of Carlos by the smallest of margin.

The miss energised Maldon once again probing for a second goal and it came just before the break on 43 minutes - a fierce drive seemed to confuse Sambridge when he palmed the ball straight to Rob Girdlestone - gratefully accepting the gift he crashed the ball into the roof of the net.

HT 0-2

It was a different Blues who appeared after the break playing with more energy and verve and at last exerting pressure on an unsettled home defence. They forced a number of corners and free kicks only let down by the delivery seeming to be drawn to the hands of McNamara. Mitch Hahn in a more advanced position was busy on the ball, he tested McNamara with a rasping drive forcing the keeper into an unconventional save. Carlos was next when he collected the ball drove into the box and seeing his angled effort slide just wide of the far post.

The increased pressure was finally rewarded on the hour mark when Hahn capitalised on his industry - an interchange of passes allowed him to steal into the eighteen yard box where he drew McNamara and swept the ball into the bottom corner.

The game was now finely poised, the goal clearly rattled the Jammers who wrestled back the initiative resuming their poise and control of the first period and six minutes later they restored their two goal advantage - it was a goal crafted with clinical efficiency - the ball was transferred at pace to the flanks, delivered into the box dissecting Blues back line where Jerome Slew grabbed his second of the afternoon.

The goal was a body blow for Blues who had more than matched their hosts up until the score - now requiring an extra effort the energy levels dropped allowing Maldon to push on and search for a fourth. The dismissal of McQueen made the task even harder, Danny Parish should have scored when he somehow put the ball over for six yards and only some brave defending kept the scoreline down.

Blues will be hoping their injured players become available in the near future to strengthen the squad and maintain a promotion push.

Sambridge, Pindy( Ogunrinde 67), Joynes, McQueen,King, Martin, Hahn, Dark,Carlos (Kayembe 86), Purcell, Callander (Adebiyi 76)

Subs not used:Pearce