BOWERS & Pitsea were edged out by Maldon & Tiptree, with Liam Nash’s first-half strike enough on the night.
Bowers were looking to continue their strong start to the season but Maldon provided a tough opponent, as they begin to hit form in the Ryman North.
Former Great Wakering and Aveley man Nash got the opener, scoring from a free-kick after 18 minutes.
Luke Wilson, Scott Pethers and Brad Warner all came close to drawing parity in the second-half.
But it wasn’t to be for Rob Small’s men.
Great Wakering Rovers were also narrowly beaten as their late fight-back at Brightlingsea Regent proved to be in vain.
There was just one goal in the first-half and it came very early. Shamido Pendulu scored after just six minutes to put Regent in charge.
The second goal didn’t come until the hour mark, but it was worth the wait as Matt Cripps hit a thunderbolt from range into the net.
Wakering were not giving up though and Tommy Spillane pulled a goal back inside the final 10 minutes.
But it remained 2-1.
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