MALDON and Tiptree manager Steve Ball says there is a “feel-good vibe” at Park Drive after they clinched a seventh-placed finish in Ryman Division North.

The Jammers completed their campaign with a 1-1 draw at fourth-placed Cray Wanderers and have ended the season in strong fashion.

Maldon have lost just two league matches since the turn of the calendar year and have had a successful 2016 so far, which bodes well for the next campaign.

Ball, who took over from David Wright as Maldon manager in late December, says things are looking good for the Park Drive side.

Ball said: “(Assistant manager) Liam Bailey and I have done a tally up and we picked up a total of 42 points from the last 20 games.

“That sums up how the season went and had we had three or four more games, who knows where we could have got to?

“The knock-on effect of that is there’s a feel-good vibe around the place.

“We’ve had a number of calls from players and getting those wins and that kind of form makes people see that it’s a great place to be.

“We’re delighted that all of the players have committed themselves for next season.”

Maldon trailed at half-time against promotion-chasing Cray but the Jammers hit back after the break with an equaliser from Tarryn Allarakhia.

Ball said: “We had three games in the space of five days and 14 available outfield players and the lads were on the floor in the first half, which was understandable.

“But we dominated the second half and in the end got the point.”

Ball is already looking towards next season, which will be his first full campaign in charge of Maldon.

The Colchester United academy coach, who took over the Jammers as part of their link-up with the U’s, says he has enjoyed his first four months in charge.

Ball added: “It’s good for me – I managed at Leiston and won a couple of promotions there, so I’d done the non-league thing before.

“But I’ve got into it more and more and I’m also working full-time at Colchester United, which is where I want to be.”