Tilbury 0, Ipswich Wanderers 1

TILBURY played much of Saturday's (10 August) Isthmian North opener with ten men after star striker Sam Bantick was sent off just 34 minutes into the match.

Bantick, who was outstanding in pre-season, was cautioned for a foul just after the half hour of a goalless and evenly-contested first half, but his reaction to the yellow card upset the ref who promply flashed it again and Bantick was sent from the pitch.

Wanderers almost made the extra man pay straight away when Kai Fletcher intercepted a back pass but, luckily for the Dockers, they didn't pay for the error as his strike flew over the crossbar.

Tilbury got to the break on level terms, much to the relief of most of the crowd of 225.

Wanderers came close again in the opening stages of the second half when Tilbury were grateful to keeper Christian North for an excellent save as he tipped Rashid Salau's close range header onto the crossbar.

And Dockers had hopes of snatching the lead on 55 minutes when Alex Akrofi wriggled through the home defence but he and fellow Docker Jamie Reynolds showed hesitancy and neither could get a finishing touch from close range and the moment was gone.

Both Reynolds and Akrofi were replaced soon after as Tilbury sought to gain an initiative with fresh legs but it proved to be of no avail as, on 68 minutes, Iuri Fernandes thumped home a strike into the top corner.

There was to be one more big chance for the ten men and it came with 13 minutes left when Lewis Manor, who was voted Dockers' man-of-the-match, headed a cross towards Lewis Clark but his effort was miraculously kept out by Wanderers' stopper Craig Brand and the visitors managed to play out time.

Dockers will be back in action at Chadfields next Saturday (17 August) when they entertain Stanway Rovers in the FA Cup Preliminary Round.