Ryman Div One North
Brentwood 1 v 0 Tilbury
SHERWIN STANLEY was again the hero for Brentwood, coming off the bench to score a second-half winner that lifted the Blues into third place in Ryman North.
It took until the 72nd minute for the home side to break down a resolute Dockers defence but it was a goal worth the wait for the crowd of 122.
James Love won a header in the middle of the park and found Alex Akrofi, who hit a first-time pass to Sam Bantick.
He sped away on the right and played a perfect ball across to Stanley, who produced a fine finish at the far post.
Blues had been frustrated by their failure to take not to get a first-half lead. Robbie Rees shot just wide in the 14th minute after a good build-up between Danny Dafter, Akrofi and Tom Richardson.
Then Tilbury centre-back Jake Pooley produced a near-miraculous clearance to deny Richardson on the goal line after Dafter had headed a free-kick at goal.
Akrofi then leapt high to head a Bantick corner against the crossbar in the 25th minute with Rees firing the follow-up just over the bar from 20 yards out.
Dafter had another header from a Rees free-kick blocked on the line while Akrofi was unlucky again in the 40th minute when he won another header only to see Jack Carlile clear it off the goal line.
But Tilbury went close on the stroke of half-time when Neil Richmond fired hit a decent chance over the bar.
Richmond had another half-chance in the second half but Blues generally dominated, with Akrofi’s pace troubling the Dockers defence more as they began to tire.
After Stanley’s strike, Tilbury strove hard to get back in the game but Akrofi had a chance to increase the lead right at the end, shooting over after Rees had put him through.
With other results going Brentwood’s way on Easter Monday, it now looks very likely that they will secure a play-off place in the next couple of weeks.
With four league games left to play, Blues have a seven-point lead over sixth-placed Wroxham, who have played one more game.
Brentwood Town: Bowles, Mbulu, Baucutt, Stokes, O’Rawe, Love, Bantick (Dobbs 89), Dafter (Ngandu 81), Akrofi , Richardson (Stanley 65), Rees. Unused subs: Freeman, Robson.
