MALDON and Tiptree succumbed to a late, late goal as Redbridge won 4-3 in an entertaining Pitching In Isthmian League division north clash, writes LEE WITNEY.

In a sign of things to come, the opening exchanges saw chances for both sides with Louie Remi and George Smith going close for the Jammers, while the hosts had chances too, but were kept at bay by Luca Collins.

With 20 minutes played, there were further let-offs for both sides.

Solomon Ogunwomoju headed wide and Maldon's Yassine El-Neyah drew a good save from Redbridge goalkeeper George Martin, two minutes later.

The game was never going to end goalless and after 23 minutes, the hosts took the lead.

A free-kick was punched up rather than out by Collins and the ball fell to Ogunwomoju, who headed home past a Maldon man on the line.

Just ten minutes later though, it was 1-1 as George Smith capitalised on Redbridge's inability to clear their lines.

Louis Britton got his head to a Harrison Chatting cross but the fell loose to Smith who smashed the ball home for his seventh goal of an impressive start to his season.

Just two minutes later, the Jammers were ahead when a ball to the back post found the incoming Andre Hassanally who made no mistake, drilling home to make it 2-1.

Maldon's lead did not last long, though - about three minutes to be precise.

A defensive lapse let Redbridge through on goal only to be denied by a wonderful save from Collins using his legs.

But he didn't get the luck he deserved as the resulting corner was played to the back post before being put back into the middle, where James Barlow tapped in to equalise.

Just before half-time though, Smith struck again.

He twisted and turned his man inside out in the box before firing home on the turn, leaving Martin with no chance to send Maldon into the break ahead.

That was the last of the first-half action as the referee blew to bring an action-packed opening 45 minutes to an end.

The second half started with a Maldon change as Smith made way for Temple and the Jammers had a good chance to score a fourth with ten minutes played.

But Jayden Randell hooked his shot from a free-kick into the hands of the keeper.

Redbridge equalised for the second time of the afternoon when Kobe Yeboah reacted quickest to shoot home, after the ball had come back off the post from a free header.

Both sides continued to look for more goals and neither team really ever had any control over the game.

With 20 minutes to play, a really well-worked free-kick nearly gave Maldon the lead again.

With both Chatting and El-Neyah standing over the ball, Yassine shaped to shoot but at the last minute peeled off down the right.

Chatting set the ball through to him, but his cross in was headed wide for a goal-kick.

More chances came for the away side, with Chatting and Remi linking up well down the left.

The ball in was just asking to be put away but neither Temple or Britton could get a telling touch on it.

The ball was scrambled away only as far as Adam Topley, whose shot from distance was well fielded by Martin.

And then with 20 seconds left, Redbridge found a winner thanks to Jack Chawner's strike from distance.

It found its way through a forest of bodies, after Maldon could only half clear a late corner as the hosts grabbed victory.

Maldon host Gorleston at Park Drive, on Saturday.