ILL DISCIPLINE cost ten-men Maldon and Tiptree as they were beaten 4-0 at Ware at Wodson Park.
The home side completely dominated the first half as goals from Ryan Wade and then Kieran Bishop put them two up within 16 minutes.
Ware grabbed a controversial third before madness ensued when Max Lette-Jallow was sent off for needlessly kicking out at Albert Adu.
Khale Dacosta grabbed the fourth and clinched all three points in a feisty second half.
Ware got off to a fantastic start and had two efforts cleared off the line in the opening eight minutes. Firstly Wade tried to chip Lewis Moore when the keeper came out to clear, but Gavin Greenfield did brilliantly to get back and head away. From the following corner, Adu's effort was headed over by Mitch Hunter on the Jammers' post.
But the breakthrough came just two minutes later when Moore rushed out and collided with two of his defenders. The ball broke to Dacosta on the right wing who crossed into Wade to head home at the back post.
And Wade would turn provider in the 16th minute when Dacosta once again found him at the back post with a cross. This time the forward headed across the goal to striking partner Bishop who had the simple task of tapping in at the back post.
After the first 20 minute blitz, the Jammers started to get more into the game, but were unable to really put their stamp on it. Their only chance fell to Cliff Akurang whose shot on the edge of the box was well blocked by Arturs Reinis.
But the Jammers were unable to mount any real threat going forward, as the home side continued to find way too much space in the middle of the park.
Maldon started the second half better, when Tunde Adewunmi went close with an effort from 25 yards.
But Wade came close again with ten minutes of the half gone. His long-range free-kick drifted over everybody and cannoned off the bar.
However, in the 57th minute the real controversy of the game occurred leading up to Ware's third goal. Alberto Pinto and Finbarr Robins clashed off the ball down the left, with both teams claiming the other team's player lashed out. Everybody stopped, apart from Bishop who raced through and finished into the bottom corner. After a lengthy discussion, the referee and linesman decided that the goal should stand.
Maldon were reduced to ten-men when Lette-Jallow ridiculously hacked down Adu as he ran down the left wing. A mass melee occurred as the two benches cleared, with referee Tim Donnellan having no option to but to show a straight red card.
It would always then be an uphill struggle for the Jammers after that, and Ware pounced to get their fourth in the 77th minute. The winger latched on to a through-ball and fired towards goal, with Moore half-stopping it but the ball bouncing in anyway.
Ware: R Madden, Reinis, Fowler, G Madden, Dacosta, Oujidi, Robins, Hervel (Clark 82'), Bishop (Osie 77'), Adu, Wade (Florence 74').
Subs not used: Shehu.
Bookings: Fowler (42'), R Madden (65')
Goals: Wade (10'), Bishop (16', 57'), Dacosta (77')
Maldon and Tiptree: Moore, Thomas, Hunter, Glover, Ruddock, Greenfield, Pinto, Lette-Jallow, Akurang (Oyinsan 74'), Adewunmi (Anderson 55'), Koranteng.
Subs not used: Taylor, Ashford, Warren
Bookings: Ruddock (66'), Pinto (67'), Greenfield (73')
Sent off: Lette-Jallow (64')
Referee: Tim Donnellan