A stunning opening goal from Ibby Akanbi set Maldon & Tiptree on their way to a huge win over fellow relegation battlers Three Bridges on Saturday. Defeat to Eastbourne on Tuesday night ended a three match unbeaten run ahead of this relegation six-pointer.
Maldon dominated large parts of the first half. Within the opening fifteen minutes, Jamie Bennett had a shot deflected wide for a corner and Tom Eastman headed wide. The first Three Bridges chance of the afternoon fell to Noel Leighton with seventeen minutes gone. His shot was blocked by a well timed sliding tackle from Eastman.
Maldon took the lead in stunning fashion just two minutes later through Akanbi. Jesse Olukolu’s ball to the back post was met by the Jammers striker with a sensational scissor kick.
Leighton drew a smart save from Bradley Robinson at his near post as Three Bridges mounted a rare attack. Some great football from Maldon allowed Kenedi Dariri to drive forward and unleash a shot that was blocked before Akanbi’s follow up was well saved by Bridges’ keeper Sam Roberts.
Still The Jammers laid siege to the opposition.
Ade Cole fired over before Olukolu cut in from the right and smacked the post. The rebound fell to Reiss Webber, but he was crowded out before he could get his shot away.
The second goal Maldon craved and deserved eventually came with five minutes of the first half left. Jammers debutant Evans Kouassi drove forward before crossing in. The ball was only cleared as far as Bennett and he smashed home from eight yards out.
Olukolu caused the opposition problems all afternoon. His shot across the face of goal forced Roberts into a good save, before he inexplicably had claims for a penalty waved away just a minute later. With the last kick of the half, he got his reward as he tapped home Akanbi’s cross.
HALF- TIME: MALDON & TIPTREE 3-0 THREE BRIDGES
The visitors found a way back into the game ten minutes into the second half. Maldon were caught out by a quick freekick and Charlie Bennett capitalised, rolling home to reduce the deficit.
The tide turned back in Maldon’s favour ten minutes later as Bridges’ Dan Ferreira was sent off. He hauled down Olukolu as the Jammers’ man raced though on goal leaving the referee with little alternative than reduce the visitors to ten.
The second half was in large parts, a bit of a non-event that punctuated with half chances.
With five minutes left, Samuel Adedyeye drove into the box and crossed for Webber, but he was always stretching and could only poke the ball into Roberts’ gloves. Leighton was shown a second yellow for dissent in stoppage time as Three Bridges finished the game with nine men.
Next up for Maldon is a trip to Wingate & Finchley.
Match facts
- Full-time: Maldon & Tiptree 3–1 Three Bridges
- Isthmian League - Premier Division
- Date: 2026-10-31
- Kick-off: 15:00
- Venue: The Maldon Stadium
- Half-time: 3 – 0
- Referee: Alexander Shipp
- Attendance: 255
Goals and match events
- 19′ — Goal: Ibby Akanbi (19') (Maldon & Tiptree)
- 39′ — Goal: Jamie Bennett (39') (Maldon & Tiptree)
- 43′ — Yellow card: Jesse Olukolu · Yellow card (Maldon & Tiptree)
- 45′ — Goal: Jesse Olukolu (45+1') (Maldon & Tiptree)
- 51′ — Yellow card: Noel Leighton · Yellow card (Three Bridges)
- 56′ — Goal: Charlie Bennett (56') (Three Bridges)
- 56′ — substitution: Marlon Agyakwa · substitution (Maldon & Tiptree)
- 60′ — substitution: Reece Hallard · substitution (Three Bridges)
- 65′ — substitution: Samuel Adeyeye · substitution (Maldon & Tiptree)
- 65′ — substitution: Dawid Przybylo · substitution (Three Bridges)
- 66′ — Red card: Dan Ferreria · Red card (Three Bridges)
- 71′ — substitution: Fatih Mustafa · substitution (Maldon & Tiptree)
- 74′ — substitution: Aaron Williams-Bushell · substitution (Maldon & Tiptree)
- 80′ — Yellow card: Scott Malone · Yellow card (Three Bridges)
- 88′ — Yellow card: Aaron Williams-Bushell · Yellow card (Maldon & Tiptree)
- 90′ — Red card: Noel Leighton · Red card (Three Bridges)
Maldon & Tiptree line-up
Starting XI
1. Bradley Robinson, 2. Rhamar Garrett-Douglas, 3. Jordan Peart, 4. Reiss Webber, 5. Tom Eastman (captain), 7. Jesse Olukolu, 8. Ade Cole, 9. Ibby Akanbi, 10. Evans Kouassi, 11. Jamie Bennett, 22. Kenedi Dariri
Substitutes
6. Aaron Williams-Bushell, 12. Finlay Corrigan, 14. Fatih Mustafa, 15. Marlon Agyakwa, 16. Samuel Adeyeye
Three Bridges line-up
Starting XI
1. Sam Roberts, 2. Dan Ferreria, 4. Ade Adeyinka, 6. Hayden Neathey, 7. Carlos Richards, 10. Noel Leighton (captain), 12. Scott Malone, 16. Owen Spicer, 17. Hayden Velvick, 18. Billy Irving, 20. Charlie Bennett
Substitutes
13. Naythan Bryson, 8. Bryan Villavicencio, 11. Reece Hallard, 15. Josh Chambers, 19. Dawid Przybylo
Match information supplied by Football Web Pages — match details.