Maldon Town had little difficulty in making it to the Fourth Round of the Essex Senior Cup as they cruised to a 3-0 victory over fellow Ryman League Division One outfit Tilbury at the Wallace Binder Stadium.

Despite the visitors creating the first chance of the evening, Bradley Barnes firing wide from the edge of the box, it was the hosts who dominated proceedings for the most part and they were soon in the thick of the action as a low Steve Wareham shot was well held by Dockers ‘keeper Jack Avery.

Maldon came close to grabbing the lead when James Abbott’s low free-kick struck the outside of a post before the same player shot just wide from 20 yards after a strong run. The home grabbed an advantage on 25 minutes, catching the opposition cold as Abbott chipped a free-kick over the wall for Jack Jeffrey to firmly head home from six yards.

Abbott, seemingly at the heart of everything Maldon produced, then cut a ball back from the goalline for Jeffrey to stab into the side netting before Maldon ‘keeper Darren Smith was called into action as he made a good stop to push Joe Keith’s free-kick around the post. However, Maldon’s advantage was forced home two minutes into first-half stoppage time after Wareham was brought down inside the box before stepping up himself to send Avery the wrong way from twelve yards.

A quiet start to the second period didn’t hail an opportunity until the 65th minute, Tilbury’s Kayan Kalipha sending a rolling shot into the gloves of Smith, but the visitors’ cause was then hampered when Joel Barnett picked-up two cautions inside four minutes, firstly for a foul and then dissent, to leave his side with ten men and a mountain to climb. Maldon, with their tails up, saw Abbott’s strike saved by Avery and the visiting ‘keeper was soon on-hand to deny Lee Hales.

The hosts’ victory was sealed twelve minutes from time, Abbott capitalising on a misplaced backpass before steering the ball home from a tight angle, capping an outstanding personal display. There were further opportunities for Maldon to extend their winning margin as Lee Underwood came fractionally short of connecting with Harrison Teague’s delivery before firing into the midriff of Avery after more fine Abbott play.

Maldon Town: Darren Smith, Luke Webster, Lewin Ward, Liam White, Harrison Teague, Stan Mugua, James Abbott, Lee Hales, Lee Underwood, Jack Jeffrey, Steve Wareham (Dave Nelson, 85). Unused Substitutes: Michael Amao, Glen Knight, Nathan Clarke.

Tilbury: Jack Avery, Danny Smith, Joe Keith, Adrian Simpson (Chris Taylor, 80), Julio Barnes (Rickie Hayles, 46), Ben Bradbury (Nathan Gordon, 60), Joel Barnett, Christian Wheeler, Marlee Brown, Kayan Kalipha, Bradley Barnes. Unused Substitutes: Jamie Wallace, Andy Hall.