Isthmian Division North
Tilbury 3 v 0 Newmarket Town
DOCKERS kept their part of the deal, keeping faint hopes of an Isthmian North play-off place alive but a goal in the tenth minute of added time by fifth-placed Brightlingsea Regent against Waltham Abbey earned them a votal point leaving the gap between themselves and Tilbury at five points – with both having two matches left.
Tilbury play the first of those when they make the shortest of all possible trips when Grays play host in Monday’s ‘El Chavico’ derby at the EMR Stadium, while Regent, who need just a point to thwart Dockers, go to Gorleston.
Saturday’s (19 April) match at Chadfields was a vital one for visitors Newmarket, who would have climbed out of the drop zone with a win, so it was vital Tilbury made a decent start.
Nevertheless it took almost half an hour for them to gain command and then a flurry og goals followed.
Dockers broke the deadlock after 26 minutes as Lindell Stewart drove towards the by-line on the left wing before pulling the ball back across the face of goal. Harrison Day was on hand to come flying in and finish from close range to give Tilbury the lead.
Just seven minutes later, Dockers doubled their lead courtesy of a clinical counterattack as Day pounced on a mistake from Ben Robinson, who misjudged the flight of the ball. Day released Alex Hernandez, whose lobbed effort flew over James Young and found the far corner.
The hosts had an opportunity to extend their lead further after some good play down the left hand side allowed space for Macauley Joynes to deliver a cross. Oli Spooner rose above the defence to meet the cross, but his header slammed against the crossbar.
The follow-up was saved, and Lewis Clark fired wide from the resultant corner.
