Tilbury 1, Dereham Town 0

Coggeshall Town 1, Grays Athletic 0

TILBURY left it late but in the end overcame the curse of the manager of the month title and picked up another BetVictor Isthmian North victory at Chadfield on Saturday.

The winning goal came five minutes from time from sub Eljay Worrel and sets the Dockers up for their next game – Tuesday's home derby with neighbours Grays Athletic.

Grays, in contrast, go into the derby on the back of a defeat, losing at Coggeshall where Nnamdi Nwachuku's 63rd minute goal proved decisive. Grays' recent form is poor. Other than a run in the Essex Senior Cup which saw them unluckily beaten by Billericay last week they have won just one league match in ten league outings since November.

Tilbury had a magnificent January, and have forced themselves into the promotion chase.

What makes their month so impressive is not only the fact that they won four of their five matches and drew the other one, but that on the way they defeated three of their chief rivals- Heybridge Swifts, Bury Town and - removing their unbeaten record - Maldon & Tiptree. Only Witham Town faced the Dockers last month and left with anything.

Because of the closure of Brentwood Town's ground by the league, Tilbury's game against the Blues scheduled for Tuesday 18 February, has now been moved to Monday, 17 February at Aveley FC.