MISTLEY Marauders travelled to Maldon's third team in Eastern Counties League division four and won 26-0.

The victory keeps them top of the table after seven games, with 29 points.

Their confidence and morale are high and their ambition is now to be promoted at the end of the season.

A close game was on the cards and, seconds after the kick-off, Maldon quickly followed up the ball and were on the Mistley line.

John Phillips went off early with a head injury but, thanks to superb scrum play from David Wood, James Wares and Paul Coffey, Mistley clawed their way back into the Maldon half.

Hooker Angus Bissett came off with an ankle injury to be replaced by veteran Bertie Baxter.

Mistley won the scrum against the heel and a penalty was awarded to them.

However, Jack Tompkins missed in windy conditions.

Locks Kyle Fox and Gary Booker probed the opposition all afternoon and, after a brilliant tackle from Freddie Barrett, and with Chris Coogan taking over as scrum-half from Phillips, Coogan picked up the ball and sprinted to the Maldon line.

He passed to Lewis Symes to score the first try, which was successfully converted by Tompkins.

Mistley maintained this lead for the rest of the game, with Tompkins tackling like a demon and the side producing some quality rucking to keep Maldon at bay.

However, the hosts defended well.

Mistley's backs were running with the ball at every opportunity, assisted by full-back Jamie Dove.

A Maldon player then suffered a yellow card and then came Mistley's second try, following a run from Wood.

This was again successfully converted by Tompkins to increase the lead to 14-0.

Just before half-time, Fox, who again improves with every match, ran with the ball, allowing Dove to score.

It was duly converted by Tompkins to give the Marauders a 21-0 lead.

Mistley had a good start in the second half but Maldon were not going to let their heads drop and played a much better game.

Their older forward players fought hard but Nick Moses, as flanker, together with Wood, Will Vine and Bissett, who was back on the pitch, responded well and captured the ball at every opportunity.

Maldon nearly scored but one of the best defensive performances seen this season by Bissett saved the day.

More superb kicking from Tompkins pushed Mistley back in the Maldon quarter and allowed Coogan to pick up the ball, score and increase the lead to 26-0.

Maldon kept fighting but the final whistle blew and the Mistley Marauders had earned an excellent 26-0 victory.

Coogan named man-of-the-match.