The inaugural St Clare's Cup ended in slightly controversial circumstances when the referee appeared to blow for full time with minutes still left on the clock.

The "Maldon derby" attracted a crowd of around 150 to Scraley Road on Sunday lunchtime with all proceeds going to St Clare's hospice.

With Heybridge Swifts having played a Rymans League fixture less than 24 hours earlier and Maldon looking ahead to their East Anglian Cup semi-final on Tuesday, it was not surprising that some first team faces were missing.

Swifts went ahead on 13 minutes following a penalty given when Maldon keeper Dean Mahoney upended a Heybridge player in the box. Mahoney was close to pulling off a fine penalty save, diving to his left he tipped Lewis Bailey's spot kick onto the post however the ball ended in the net.

Nevertheless Maldon fought back and were level inside three minutes. Craig Newman fed Julian Richards and the young striker shot on the turn past Banks in the Swifts goal.

In what was an even contest Town went ahead shortly before the interval, again Newman was the provider and Richards the finisher.

The teams that came out for the second half saw many changes and Swifts started the half the stronger. It was of little surprise when they equalised on the hour.

Maldon defender Stuart Jarvis was adjudged to have tripped a Swifts player in the box and Ricky Clark made no mistake with the resulting penalty.

Maldon manager Colin Wallington tightened things up in midfield moving Judd Coe from his left back slot, as a result Town saw a greater share of possession. Indeed Town might have gone ahead when a through ball put Paul Delaney in on goal, however he got underneath the ball and his effort cleared the crossbar.

Swifts went ahead on 80 minutes following a defensive error in the Town defence.

Under pressure Maldon should have conceded a corner but instead the defensive header travelled across the goal, the ball fell to Alex Cressy who crashed the ball past substitute keeper Ed Wootton.

Town went looking for the equaliser but with several minutes to be played the referee blew the final whistle , ensuring that Swifts would be the first winners of what is hoped to become an annual event.

Published Wednesday, May 1, 2002