The Dockers welcomed Biggleswade Town to Chadfield’s on Saturday 3rd October in the FA Carlsberg Trophy Preliminary Round Fixture.
Tilbury boss Graham Chester was happy to have a full squad ahead of the fixture, Rickie Hayles was the only missing regular from the starting line-up.
Prior to the start of the game on Saturday a special award was presented to Tilbury defender “Daniel Smith” The Award was to celebrate Smith’s magnificent achievement of 100 League and Cup Games for Tilbury from the previous 3 seasons. The award was presented to the likeable defender by Dockers Boss Graham Chester.
The Dockers kicked off against a strong wind and looked the more composed in the opening 10 minutes of the game. Joel Barnett beat the last Waders defender and with just the keep to beat, however, Biggleswade keeper Dean Bull alert to the danger cuts down the space to scoop up the ball.
Tilbury continued to pressurise the visitors defence: a corner whipped in by Joe Keith was nodded down by the towering figure of Glen Golby to the feet of Kayan Kalipha, Kalipha with his back to goal from 10 yards out turned sharply to shoot into a wall of Waders bodies who block his attempt on goal.
After 17 minutes the Dockers score: some good build up play by Ben Bradbury from inside his own half saw the battling midfielder regain possession and release Kalipha down the left hand-side, Kalipha with a neat back heel into the path of Joel Barnett who stroked the ball across goal and from just inside the box the incoming Chris Taylor picks his spot to make it 1-0 to the Dockers.
The Dockers continued to press hard, this time Daniel Smith the provider in the 25th minute, Smith attacks down the left and swept a great ball almost from the by-line across goal on the head of the incoming Joe Keith whose effort blasts just over the bar.
The strong wind in the faces of the Tilbury men seems to assist the hosts, the ball being held up allowing both Kalipha and Barnett time to compose themselves when attacking, equally the wind at the backs of the Waders seems to be counter productive which saw the visitors front men constantly chasing shadows as the ball runs out of play!
Tilbury opened up the Waders defence once more, some good ball control from Courtney Mclean who sweeps the ball out to the right, Christian Wheeler seeing Joel Barnett making his run lofts the ball over the shoulder of lively front man, Barnett does well to bring the ball under control and smashes a 20 yard thunderbolt, however the ball curves away from goal and out for a goal kick.
In the 29th minute, the Waders attack as Stephen Smith does well to skip past two Tilbury defenders and squares the ball across goal to the back post and into the path of Chris Johnson, rather than shoot Johnson smashes the ball low back across goal but no incoming presence to take advantage of a near range effort!
Glen Golby clears his defence and sends the ball up field to Kalipha who runs at the Waders defence, Barnett finding a yard of space beckons for the ball, Kalipha takes the option and users Barnett for a neat one-two, which results in Kalipha in the 18 yard box and shoots from 10 yards out, the Waders keeper does well to block the effort with his legs.
Closing minutes of the first period and the Waders have a flurry of attempts on the Dockers goal, Andy Hall hardly tested in the first period stays strong after a fine effort on goal by Jack Weeden who attacks the Tilbury goal from just inside his own half, as he set off towards the Tilbury goal mouth, Weedon getting within 20 yards of the Tilbury goal, decides to blast the ball, however, Andy Hall looked accomplished as he sinks the ball into his chest to prevent further danger.
Late into injury time and the Dockers were unlucky not to extend their lead, the ball to the feet of Joe Keith almost to the by-line, Keith intelligently deciding to flick the ball over the shoulder of the advancing defender to the feet of Kayan Kalipha just inside the box, Kalipha blasts a goal-bound effort but Bull made a fine one handed save to keep the score 1-0 at the break.
Second half and the Dockers now with the strong wind at their backs try to re-adjust to the speed of the ball, and get caught out in the 61st minute, from a nothing situation The Wader’s Bobby Dance levelled the score for the visitors, 1-1.
69 minutes gone and the Dockers’ making wholesale changes, 3 substitutes being used, Kayan Kalipha, Christian Wheeler and Ben Bradbury off and Lee Hayles, Manlee Brown and Chris Nwosu all on.
71 minutes and it all goes wrong for the Dockers, a long ball up field by the Waders, sees the ball fall kindly in the Dockers area and Biggleswade substitute Dan Heron stroked the ball home, 2-1 to Biggleswade.
The game now being held up in midfield for long periods of the game, with the Wader’s looking the more threatening for the remainder of the half.
The Dockers coming close to level the score late in the second half, a Glen Golby throw into the box resulted in Chris Taylor’s effort smash off the bar and out for a goal kick.
Match official Mr Hillier who marshalled the game extremely well for 90 minutes assisted by Mr Barnes and Mr Howe’s blew the whistle to bring this Cup game to a close.
Biggleswade Town will now face Chipstead at home after Chipstead beat Horsham YMCA by 3-1 on Saturday.
Man of the Match
Daniel Smith – 100 League and Cup Appearances for the Dockers
Tilbury FC: – Andy Hall, Danny Smith, Joe Keith (Capt), Courtney Mclean, Glen Golby, Chris Taylor , Jamie Wallace, Christian Wheeler, Joel Barnett, Kayan Kalipha , Ben Bradbury Subs: Manlee Brown, Julio Barnes, Lee Hayes, Zack Avery, Chris Nwosu.
Biggleswade Town FC: – Dean Bull, Peter Gatti, Mark Coulson, Mark Webster, Paul Reynolds (Capt), Stephen Smith, Bobby Dance, Glen Lamcroft, Jamie Steele, Chris Johnson, Jack Weeden, Subs: Liam Folds, James Freshwater, Daniel Heron, Harry Carter, Lee Samways.
Match Officials
Referee: Mr J. Hillier
1st Assistant: Mr M.S Barnes,
2nd Assistant: Mr R.J Howes
Att: 61
