Sam Higgins bagged his first brace for the club as Chelmsford City beat Maldon & Tiptree at The Wallace Binder Stadium for their first victory of pre-season.

SAM Higgins bagged his first brace for the club as Chelmsford City beat Maldon & Tiptree at The Wallace Binder Stadium for their first victory of pre-season.

The young striker took just four minutes to open his account, getting on the end of a Stephen Reed corner from the right before heading home.

And it was a case of the same again seven minutes later when Reed’s right-sided flag kick was nodded home from same unmarked player.

The Blue Square South visitors added a third after 36 minutes when Tyrone Scarlett found the roof of the net from a tight angle on the right.

Joe Sweeney’s reply after the break proved to be a mere consolation for the Ryman League Division One North side though as Chelmsford’s Anthony Cook was grounded on his way into the box with a minute left and Matthew Lock tucked away the spot-kick.

The Clarets now face Heybridge Swifts on Tuesday night (7.30pm).