Match Report: Cambridge City 0 - 2 Maldon & Tiptree

Maldon & Tiptree were the visitors for Cambridge City's first home midweek fixture of the season. The Lilywhites were aiming for a happier result after slumping to a 3-0 defeat at the hands of Redbridge on Saturday. Meanwhile, the Jammers were riding high after beating Stanway Rovers 2-0 in their 2^nd Qualifying Round FA Cup match, with the team also enjoying a perfect start to their league season with 4 wins from 4.

Courtesy of Ali Dixon

          Referee Jonathan Lam got the match underway and the opening exchanges were fruitless and scrappy, Courtney Senior came closest after some neat play but the offside flag had been raised, preventing any progression in the attack.

          In the 10^th minute, City had the first real attack when George Smith got away and aimed an effort at goal, Elliot Justham not needing to do much to keep the shot out.

          City then came back with Kane Munday winning the ball in the centre of the pitch, Tom Eastman was needed for Maldon & Tiptree after the defender blocked Michael Salako from moving any further.

          Maldon then began to dominate possession and created the majority of chances. The first one came when a free-kick was sent in by Louis Dunne, Cameron James locked onto the cross but his effort was stopped by a defensive challenge.

          Senior then tried his luck from 25 yards that flew wide, then, after 16 minutes, City had their best chance as Samrai Gebrai collected a pass and fired an effort at goal that curled just wide of the far post.

          Maldon came forward again, Dunne taking a free-kick that led to Jack Cawley firing a cross into the area that James Philp had to deal with, punching away with a well timed jump.

          But, after 22 minutes, City's defence wilted and Maldon took the lead. Courtney Senior had the ball in the midfield and, with not many options for a pass, he decided to go it alone and got his reward when his deflected effort looped into the net, leaving Philp standing motionless in the centre of the goal.

          City looked for an immediate response and they were given a chance with a free-kick. With City missing Jack Thompson because of an injury he had sustained in the loss to Redbridge, Jamie Dicks was on free-kick duty, the cross eventually found Sam Coombes. Gebrai then latched onto the lobbed pass and, as he journeyed into the penalty area, felt he was tripped and went down in the box. The referee deemed Gebrai had used simulation and booked the City man, much to the chagrin of the City faithful.

          Maldon had the lead and they were looking for more, Tevan Allen took a throw to Louie Arrowsmith, the cross was claimed by Philp. Some quick play a little later saw Dunne have his own effort saved by Philp.

          With 35 minutes gone, Freddie Sears and goalscorer Senior linked up to create another chance, Jayden Randell clearing the ball away.

          City then had a golden chance right on half-time. Gebrai laid the ball off to Salako, and the striker then found himself on his own, Justham kept the shot out and Salako then had a second chance but failed to get the ball out from his feet.

          At half-time the score remained 1-0 to the Jammers, just before, there was a set-to between Jamie Dicks and Cameron James after a challenge on the City midfielder, both players receiving a yellow card.

          The 2^nd half continued in the same way as the 1^st, Dunne had a shot blocked after 49 minutes, the resulting corner saw James firing over the crossbar.

          With 57 minutes played, a City throw found George Smith, again, Justham keeping the clean sheet alive.

          Sears and Senior combined to force Philp to save again, then, after Arrowsmith had won a corner after wandering into City's penalty area, Dylan Williams had his own shot blocked and then saved by Philp.

Courtesy of Alix Dixon

          City had a free-kick after 68 minutes, Gebrai lobbed in a cross and Warman shot wide, wasting another chance.

          A City corner came shortly afterwards, Ali Njie's shot was finely saved on the line by Justham. The referee had already blown for an infringement before the shot was taken.

          With 83 minutes gone, a City cross found substitute Solomon Ofori and the ball appeared to hit a hand, but the referee waved away any appeals.

          City kept coming for the equaliser, Munday and Gebrai worked nicely together, Amine Saassi got in front of Smith to prevent a goalscoring opportunity.

          City looked to break and Ofori collected the pass 25 yards from goal, but the assistant referee ruled that the City striker was offside.

          Maldon then charged down to the other end and Freddie Sears slotted in the finishing goal after neat play by Allen and Saassi, killing off any chance for a City comeback.

          City failed to mount any more serious chances after that and the final whistle blew, leaving City one place inside the relegation zone and Maldon & Tiptree 2^nd after their 5^th win from 5 matches.

          City will now look to their FA Trophy match against Witham Town on Saturday, but they will have to compete without Jamie Cureton in charge after the manager was dismissed shortly after the loss to Maldon & Tiptree.

Connor Taylor-Creek