Dire day for the Dockers as Yachtsmen sail away with big victory

By Mason Hutchinson

16th Apr 2023 | Football


Wroxham 5, Tilbury 0

Tilbury made a couple changes to their side from the 1-1 draw with Brentwood on Tuesday, with Tom Salter and Luke Wilson returning to the starting XI.

Dockers had the earliest of chances, getting forward in the seventh minute and winning a throw high up the field. Spooner's long throw was launched into the box and flicked on by Wilson. The ball made its way to Alex Clark who fired a volley but couldn't keep his effort down.

Just seven minutes later, the hosts constructed an attack of their own with a good passage of play to allow Taylor time and space on the edge of Tilbury's area. His shot, however, was fired straight at the keeper, giving Girling a simple save which he punched out of harm's way.

You could sense a goal was coming in this game and it went the way of The Yachtsmen in the 32nd minute. Black's cute flick over the Docker's resistance found Miles in behind the defence. Instead of taking on the shot himself, he selflessly set the ball with a lovely, cushioned header to Shaun Taylor who put the ball past Girling to give his side the lead.

The home side soon doubled their lead when a great ball forward to Brad Spooner was met by an even better touch into space on the right-hand side. Spooner carried the ball down the line to allow his teammates to get up in his support before he drilled a low ball to the arriving Taylor, who slotted home his second of the game to double Wroxham's lead.

Despite conceding two goals in a short period of time, Dockers changed formation and created a chance instantly. Clark was being pressured by two defenders on the right-hand side and Clarky's brilliant footwork allowed him to pass his man and drive to the by-line. His cross was headed out but only as far as Donovan on the edge of the box, unfortunately his effort flew wide of the target.

Two minutes later, Tilbury got forward once again with Salter, Yeboah and Clark linking up very well to cut open the Wroxham pressure. Clarky was given space to whip in an early ball to the back post, which was met by Adam Vyse but he could not direct his header goalward.

Despite the away side having a lot to do, Wroxham were the team that got the first attempt at goal when Taylor skipped past two challenges as he carried his team up the pitch before finding Brad Spooner making a late surge into Tilbury's penalty area.

However, Spooner was denied by a brilliant save by Harry Girling, who came out well to close the attacker's angle. In the 62nd minute, Alex Clark continued to be the man creating chances for The Dockers, when he showcased a mesmerising piece of skill to spin past the full-back and then ride the next challenge.

Clark managed to hold onto the ball before firing his effort low to the near post, but the keeper was wise to it, as he got down well and pushed the ball past the post.

The Yachtsmen would begin to sail away from Tilbury though, as they netted their third after 67 minutes. After a failed cross into the penalty area, Harry Barker was on hand to recycle the opportunity by sending a ball back into the danger area where Miles run around the back and was the first to react by emphatically firing home from close range.

Tilbury managed to create another opportunity in the 81st minute when Plunkett's overlapping run saw him collect the ball from Clark's pass down the side-line. Plunkett played a cut back to the arriving Spooner, but his effort was denied as it smashed against the post, killing any hope of a consolation for the visitors.

Wroxham were not finished yet though, as they scored their fourth with 5 minutes to go as play was spread out wide to Abodunde. The substitute fizzed a pass into the striker, Miles, whose first touch was brilliantly flicked over the defender before he poked the ball into the top right corner, to well and truly put Tilbury to bed.

There was still time for another goal, when Ryan Miles was played through too easily as he ghosted past the defence once again. Miles kept calm and took the ball around the helpless keeper to give himself an empty net to pass the ball into for Wroxham's fifth and to complete his hat trick. That was all the action at Trafford Park, and the loss meant that any hope of automatic survival for Tilbury was now impossible.

Instead they now have to make sure they at least match Great Wakering's result next week to confirm their place in the play-offs. The Dockers are back in action for their final league game of the season as they welcome Gorleston to Chadfields for a 3pm kick off on Saturday 22 April.

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