Tilbury 0, Stowmarket Town 3

TILBURY found themselves outgunned by promotion-chasing Stowmarket at Chadfields this evening (Tuesday, 10 January), going down to a 3-0 Isthmian North defeat.

The match offered managerless Dockers the chance to get out of the bottom four but on a rainswept evening they went behind to an early goal and though they battled gamely, couldn't find the firepower up front required to trouble Town.

The visitors took a sixth minute lead when Ollie Sotoyinbo beat the offside trap and rounded home keeper Christian North to score.

Tilbury responded well and Martin Tuohy went close with a header but Stowmarket were generally in the ascendency and spurned a number of their own chances.

Tilbury were forced into an early change when veteran David Knight replaced Charlie Morris after 18 minutes and he nearly made a dramatic impact but a near post shot was saved by James Bradbrook.

Dockers defender Archie Edwards was unlucky with a shot that came back off the woodwork - which was somehow symptomatic of their night.

In the early stages of the second half North did well to keep out Jack Wilkinson's effort but a second Stowmarket goal wasn't long in coming, Reginald Thompson-Lambe finishing after being set up by Sotoyinbo.

And a third came just after the hour with a shot that deceived North from Wilkinson.

In the closing stages Stowmarket might have extended their lead but in the end were content to take a comfortable, if very wet win!

Grays Athletic's Essex Senior Cup tie at Concord Rangers was a victim of the wet weather and postponed, as was East Thurrock United's match at Witham in the same competition.