Two first half goals gave Maldon & Tiptree a facile victory at Trafford Park as Wroxham dropped to within one point of the Ryman League relegation zone. Their cause was not helped by Waltham Abbey’s shock 2-0 win at leaders AFC Sudbury.

Wroxham made one change to the side that won away at Phoenix Sports with Sam Harty coming in for Michael Sommerfield who was on the bench. Lewis Sturman returned to the squad and took up a place on the bench.

The visitors started the game on the front foot as the first shot at goal came in the opening five minutes of the game. Tarik Moore-Azille's dart down the right hand side saw the full back play the ball inside to Kieran Monlouis but his weak shot from the edge of the area didn't trouble Pride in the Wroxham goal.

Maldon goalkeeper Steve Phillips was then called into action, as Jack Garrod made his way past two defenders before playing the ball to Jamie Forshaw on the edge of the area. Forshaw took a touch and sent the ball low towards the goal but his shot was met by a diving save from Phillips who parried it away for safety.

On 16 minutes the Yachtsmen found themselves a goal down. Rhys Henry's pass through the defence saw Billy Roast get on the end of it before smashing the ball into the back of the net from six yards to make it 0-1. Wroxham were finding themselves up against it as the visitors dominated the ball. Maldon won a free kick wide left of the penalty area but the attempted cross into the box didn't get past Stephen Taylor at the front post who cleared well up the pitch. Ten minutes later Jordan King picked up the first yellow card of the game for a foul mid-way inside the Wroxham half.

The home side then very nearly had a stroke of luck. Stephen Taylor’s cross from just inside the Maldon half saw the ball picked up by the wind as it changed direction, the ball very nearly crept in to the top right hand corner of the goal only for Steve Phillips to catch the ball.

With 10 minutes of the half left to play Maldon & Tiptree doubled their lead. Kieran Monlouis showed some good skill on the right hand side beating the defender with pace. The former Charlton and Stoke player played a teasing ball across the six-yard box to Rhys Henry who poked the ball in from close range to make it 0-2. It almost became worse for the home side as five minutes later the visitors were close to being through on goal again. A long ball forward from Billy Roast saw Elliot Pride forced to rush out of his area and smash the ball up field to clear any danger. In the last few moments of the half, David Hinton’s cross from the left hand side was cleared at the back post by Ben Wyatt in what was the last action of the first half.

At half time, Wroxham made a change to their side as Jamie Forshaw was replaced by winger Tom Cullumbine.

The Yachtsmen started the second half with more gusto than they had the first. Five minutes into the second half Nick Davey’s through ball to Jack Garrod saw the run of Garrod get adjudged to be offside by the referee’s assistant. David Hinton took a free kick from the right hand side, but Sam Harty’s header was over the bar. Jack Garrod then found space around 25 yards out before shooting from distance but his shot was pulled just wide of the left hand post.

On the hour Jordan King was replaced by Joel Potter to try and add a bit more creativity going forward. Potter was involved immediately as his cross from the left hand side was cleared by Moore-Azille at the near post. The away side then countered quickly, as Darren McQueen found himself with a lot of space inside the Wroxham half. McQueen found Rhys Henry on the edge of the area however his powerful shot was fantastically blocked by Nick Bailey. Tarryn Allarakhia then went close for the visitors as his body feint fooled the defender before his curling shot from the left went well wide of the Wroxham goal. Sam Newson then took a shot from around 30 yards out but the ball was blasted over the bar and out for a goal kick as Maldon looked to step up the pace.

The two best chances for further goals came in the final 10 minutes of the game. Darren McQueen’s cross from the right hand side was met by the head of Tarik Moore-Azille who had found space but the full back failed to convert and his header went a couple of yards wide of the left post. Wroxham then had a chance to pull one back. Stephen Taylor’s cross from the right hand side was met by Nick Davey but his glancing header just went wide of the left hand post. The final shot of the game went to Maldon as the impressive Monlouis's shot from the edge of the area was rifled over the bar.

It was a disappointing game for the Yachtsmen as they looked a different side to the one that won at Phoenix Sports last Saturday. They now have a game on Monday away to Brightlingsea Regent to focus on as they hope to keep themselves away from the relegation zone.

Wroxham: Elliot Pride, Stephen Taylor, Nick Bailey, Jordan King (Joel Potter, 59), Aarron Taylor, Matt Halliday, Jack Garrod, Sam Harty, Nick Davey, Jamie Forshaw (Tom Cullumbine, 46), David Hinton. Subs; Joel Potter, Tom Cullumbine, Michael Sommerfield, Lewis Sturman.

Maldon & Tiptree: Steve Phillips, Tarik Moore-Azille, Ben Wyatt, Billy Roast, Gavin Greenfield, Curtis Haynes-Brown, Tarryn Allarakhia (Adam Mills, 82), Kieran Monlouis, Sam Newson (David Levey, 74), Rhys Henry, Darren McQueen. Subs; Adam Mills, David Levey, Cemal Ramadan.

Attn: 158