ALAN Kimble was pleased by his Maldon and Tiptree side’s performance despite their defeat at the hands of Needham Market.

The Jammers lost 4-2 away at second place Needham in Ryman One North on Tuesday night.

The away side pulled it back to 2-2 before Needham secured the match but Kimble was buoyed by the reaction of his side after Saturday’s 3-0 FA Trophy preliminary round exit at Hythe Town.

Kimble said: “It was a much better performance.

“Saying that we lost and they scored four goals.

“If you go away from home and score two goals then the least you should do is come away with a point.

“But I was pleased with the commitment from the boys.

“I am confident that, with a bit of tinkering with the squad, we can go on from here.

“We had the legs on Tuesday night and we stuck at it.

“Two goals came from slips from us.

“No-one expected us to get anything from this game.

“It was a good performance and we can go on from here and climb up the league.”

The home side took an early lead as Keiran Morphew fired home on three minutes. Oliver Fenn then doubled Needham’s advantage 17 minutes later.

But on 22 minutes, Maldon were back in the game through a Samuel Nunn own goal.

The Jammers got back on level terms when Tunde Adewumni equalised on 27 minutes.

But parity only lasted for two minutes as Morphew fired in to make it 3-2 for the home side.

Luke Ingram then wrapped the game up making it 4-2 on 83 minutes.

Kimble’s reaction to Tuesday night’s loss was in marked contrast to Saturday’s exit from the FA Trophy.

He said: “We were poor all round on Saturday.

“It was my first league game in charge of the side.

“We didn’t compete, it was men against boys out there.

“We prepared them properly for the game.

“Ed (chairman Garty) paid for a coach for the boys to travel down.

“It’s time the players took a long look at themselves and started putting something back into the club with their performances.

“I have been brought in to move the club up the table.

“It will be a challenge but one that I am relishing.”