Hawks suffer 1st league defeat of the season

In what was a slow start to the game Maldon & Tiptree were first to show their attacking intent when a Mitch Hunter free kick was headed back into the danger area by Tunde Adewunni for Max Lette-Jallow to fire wide. On 22 minutes The Hawks had there first sight of goal when Shane Stamp put the ball in for James Smith to shoot over. Maldons Cliff Akurang's got up well to give Nathan Koranteng a half sight of goal but he pulled his effort well wide of the goal. Shane Stamp then fired wide of the angle of bar and post before a quick break ended with Stamp seeing his shot swell saved by home keeper Lewis Moore at the expense of a corner.

Midway through the half a free kick from David Cowley was only cleared out to Smith whose low shot sped narrowly past the post with Moore stranded, before another Cowley free kick went right across the home goal area with no one getting a touch. On 33 minutes Maldons Cliff Akurang was dismissed for a stamp on Fabion Simms while Simms was lying on the ground. The Hawks fashioned a half chance before half time when great passing between Smith and Stamp ended with the latter firing over when well placed.

An early Harlow attack at the start of the 2nd half saw Smith put Junior Appiah clear down the right but his dangerous cross was cleared, Maldon took the lead with a classic break away goal after 60 minutes. The ball was cleared out of the home defence to Nathan Koranteng and he held the ball up well before going forward to hit a fine lofted pass that put Alberto Pinto clear of the Hawks defence and he expertly lobbed the ball over advancing keeper Ed Thompson.
Three minutes later the Hawks created what turned out to be their best scoring chance when Cowley turned on the edge of the penalty area before getting a low shot away that produced a superb low diving save by Lewis Moore as he pushed the ball away for a corner. Play then became mainly confined to the midfield area from where Danny Chapman's men tried to pile forward but were held at bay by Maldon and Tiptree's defence. With no danger being created from open play the Hawks were looking towards set pieces to put pressure on the home side but again their defence stood strong to deny any further scoring.