Maldon & Tiptree vs Cray Wanderers – Isthmian Premier – Saturday 29th August, 3 pm – Match Preview & Directions
Cray Wanderers start the always busy but exciting August Bank Holiday weekend on Saturday with a visit to newly promoted Maldon & Tiptree as both teams look to continue the momentum of fine wins last weekend. The Wands complete the double header at home to Welling United but first must look to overcome the hurdle set by last season’s Isthmian North Champions.
The Wands picked up their first win of the season last Saturday with a merited victory against promotion favourites Eastbourne Borough and was just rewards for the players as they certainly deserved more points than the two picked up in the previous three games. Tim O’Shea’s side stand fifteenth in the table on five points in the very early league table which at this stage sees only Carshalton Athletic with a 100% record from the first four games.
Last Saturday’s game was a terrific advert for the Isthmian Premier and both sides had openings before Ade Yusuff showed awareness to capitalise on hesitation at the back to stroke home his second goal of the season.
Cray had chances to add to their lead through Ola Ogunwamide, Yusuff, Soul Kader and Lateef Adaja but were also indebted to keeper Henry Molyneux who made four fine stops in the game against a potent Borough attack.
The Wands added a classic second goal in the 86th minute with a trademark special free kick from Alex Hernandez to net also his second of the season. Borough pulled a consolation goal back deep into added time but was too late the change the outcome.
With both Holiday games right on top of one another, similar to Easter Cray will be looking to maintain that level of performance against tough opposition ahead of next Saturday’s FA Cup break away to Lewes.
The Wands will head to Essex to face a Maldon & Tiptree side who clinched promotion to the Isthmian Premier for the first time winning the North Division title winning the title on 97 points, level with Felixstowe & Walton clinching promotion with a 4-1 win vs Gorleston on 18th April. The Jammers also reached the 1st Round of the FA Cup last season for the third time losing at Port Vale.
It has been a difficult summer off the pitch for the Jammers since promotion but the football side of things under Manager Mark Hawkes so far has been efficient since a rather rude awakening to the league in a 0-6 defeat at Dulwich Hamlet on the opening day. Since then a 1-0 win against a tough Aveley side was followed by a 1-2 defeat at home to Dartford on 15th August. Last Saturday saw Maldon & Tiptree win a battle of promoted clubs with a 4-1 win at Leatherhead ending the Tanners unbeaten start to the season with goals from Ibbi Akanbi, TQ Addy, Chaynie Burgin and an own goal. Maldon & Tiptree with six points stand 12th in the table. On Monday they visit Brentwood Town in an Essex derby and also visit Cambridge City in the FA Cup 1st Qualifying Round next Saturday.
Maldon & Tiptree were rebranded in 2009 and amalgamated. Maldon Town who were one of Wands legend Bill Lappage’s former clubs reached the FA Vase Semi Finals in 2002-03 had played previously in the Isthmian Premier for one season in 2005-06. Tiptree United were FA Vase finalists in 2001-02 losing to Whitley Bay at Villa Park. The Maldon & Tiptree club playing in the Isthmian North were playoff finalists in 2012-13 losing to Thamesmead Town, again in 2016-17 losing to Thurrock and in 2017-18 losing to Heybridge Swifts. They looked well placed for promotion again in 2019-20 in a season where they reached the first round of the FA Cup in a televised tie which they lost narrowly to Newport County and again in 2020-21 losing at home to Morecambe but were hampered like so many clubs by the COVID outbreak. Under Kevin Horlock’s management they earned promotion last season before Mark Hawkes took over in the summer.
The sides in regards to Maldon & Tiptree have met on five occasions. For two seasons in the Isthmian North with Maldon & Tiptree winning twice, one draw and Cray’s only win came in the 2015-16 season on a very windy afternoon on 5th December 2015 with goals from Nathan Fox and James Duckworth in a 2-1 victory. The most recent meeting came in the FA Trophy 1st Qualifying Round on 26th October 2019 which Maldon & Tiptree won 3-0.
This promises to be a fascinating clash and a great away trip for the supporters even though the forecast may be rather wet it shouldn’t dampen a good day out and match.
DIRECTIONS TO MALDON & TIPTREE/ADMISSION
Address: Maldon Stadium, Park Drive, Maldon, Essex CM9 5JQ
Adults = £12
Concessions = £7
U18s = £3
U16’s = Free (if accompanied by a paying adult)
Playing Surface: Grass
Printed Programme: Digital copy
There is a supporters coach going to this game from Flamingo Park. Please see the link here to book a place.
AWAY COACH FROM FLAMINGO PARK
£20 for adults
£10 for kids (aged 5-15)
Ticket link below
https://app.fanbaseclub.com/Fan/Fixtures?clubId=294
Timings:
10.30 am Coach Boarding at Flamingo Park
11.00 am Departs Flamingo Park at 11 am sharp!
11.10 am additional pick up from Bus Stop D, Southwood Road, New Eltham
5 pm Coach Boarding for Departure from Maldon Stadium
5.30 pm Coach Departs Maldon Stadium
We anticipate a journey time of around one hour 20-30 minutes
Coaches park at Maldon Promenade Coach Park
Park Drive, Maldon CM9 5JQ and is a 7-10 minute walk to the ground.
DRIVING
From either direction off the A12, exit junction 18 signposted A414 to Maldon. Take the 3rd exit off roundabout onto Maldon Road / A414 and follow through the pretty village of Danbury. Eventually you will reach a main roundabout, take 1st exit, still signposted Maldon and A414. At the next roundabout, where Morrisons is located take the third exit into Limebrook Way. Follow this over 1st round about and then at the next one take 2nd exit into Park Drive. The ground is then on your left hand side. There is ample free parking at the ground, or next door in the leisure centre car park.
The nearest train station is at Hatfield Peverel, which is around 5 miles away and would require a cab to reach Maldon. Trains leave London Liverpool Street at 02 minutes past the hour and takes 40 minutes. Returns are at 32 mins past the hour. Alternatively you’ll might find it easier to go to Witham (6 miles away) and take a taxi, or go to Chelmsford (11 miles away) and catch the 31 or 31X bus. Buses leave Chelmsford Bus Station at 05 and 35 minutes past the hour and takes approx 35-40 minutes.
Nearest pub: Probably best as the ground is rather in the middle of nowhere to stick to Maldon or close to anywhere with a Taxi service or head to the ground. If you’ve plenty of time the nearest pub is the Borough Arms Motel and about fifteen minutes away. Address: 159 Wantz Road, Maldon CM9 5DD
Any other pubs are a fair distance away but as a suggestion there are
The Royal Oak, Fambridge Road CM9 6PE
The Muddy Duck, 1 Fullbridge CM9 4LE
The Queen’s Head Inn (by the Quayside) The Hythe, CM9 5HN
The Queen Victoria – Spital Road, Maldon CM9 6ED
The White Horse – Mundon, Maldon CM9 6PB
Please don’t head into Tiptree unless making a Bank Holiday weekend of it as going a fair way away from the ground.
Maldon is located on the Blackwater Estuary and the starting point of the Chelmer and Blackwater Navigation and is popular with sailing enth siasts. It is also home of the Maldon Mud Race where competitors run the estuary at low tide, along the bank and back through the water for charity. Like much of Essex and East Anglia, Maldon has evidence of an early Saxon residence and port and fended off an attack from Vikings in 924 but eventually fell in another raid in 991 and is regarded as the Battle of Maldon. This battle is commemorated with a window in St. Mary’s Church and a statue of the killed Saxon warrior Byrthnoth. The great-grandfather of George Washington is buried in Maldon. Maldon was also the location of the first self-service Tesco store opened in 1956. Former Essex and England cricketer Alistair Cook started his career at Maldon CC.
Tiptree lies around nine miles away from Maldon so just over a twenty minute drive. The Parish village is famed for its fruit preserves mainly jam which is where the club get their Jammers nickname.
