Maldon & Tiptree 3-1 Great Wakering Rovers

(Henry 30’, Newson 43’, Mills 48’: Johnson 55’)

From the Wallace Binder Stadium

FA Trophy Preliminary Round

GREAT Wakering Rovers crashed out of the FA Trophy as Maldon & Tiptree deservedly progressed at their expense.

Wakering were looking to get past the preliminary round after a 3-0 defeat at this stage last term, with manager Gary Ansell keen for back-to-back wins after their league success last time out.

But Maldon started well and could have taken the lead in the opening exchanges. Rhys Henry sent a free-kick just wide of Charlie Huntley’s post, while Adam Mills was proving hard to handle with his effort palmed away after a flowing move.

The pressure was growing, with Mills crashing a 20-yard effort off the crossbar after 10 minutes, and the same man was denied from even further out soon after.

Former Wakering striker Liam Nash was looking to make an impression but it was Henry that deservedly put the home side in front.

The forward finished a superb move to put Wakering on the back foot.

And one became two when Sam Newson finished off another excellent move, completing a counter-attack in style after a pass from Henry.

It got worse just three minutes after the break when Mills got his name on the scoresheet although Wakering weren’t going down without a fight.

Billy Johnson curled a delightful free-kick home with 35 minutes remaining.

And Jacob Cleaver came so close to pulling another goal back but he was brilliantly denied by Dan Wilks in the home goal.

Nash headed over for Maldon when he looked set to score but Maldon ran out deserved winners in the end.

Great Wakering Rovers: Huntley, Gardner, Spillane, Hilder, Easterford, Skelton, Johnson, Toussaint (Banton), Cleaver, Barlow (Nash), Asante (Jacobs)