TILBURY'S hopes of escaping the Isthmian North automatic relegation zone suffered a blow today when one of their main rivals were awarded three points without a ball being kicked.

That's a metaphorical statement, though as the decision relates to a match played deep into injury time in February.

Coggeshall Town were 1-0 up against Great Rovers in added time when Rovers' Danny Cossington suffered a serious injury and the ref called the match off.

The outcome was finally decided today (Thursday, 6 April) when it was ruled the result would stand.

Both Coggeshall and Rovers are in the bottom four with Tilbury, with Hullbridge propping the lot up.

The decision to confirm Coggehsall keep the three points means they leapfrog Tilbury - completing a good week for Town as they beat play-off chasing Stowmarket away on Tuesday evening.

That six point change in fortune puts them two points clear of Dockers who now sit second bottom.

The bottom pair of clubs are automatically relegated, while the next two will face a play-pff against a side from step 5.

Tilbury have to put any disappointment aside and concentrate on their next fixture - Saturday's clash at fifth from bottom Witham.

Anything but a win would mean Tilbury will definitely be in a play-off at best (assuming Gorleston don't get a point from their four remaining matches and suffer a slump in their goal difference) with just three matches left to get out of the automatic drop zone.