Tilbury 2, Basildon United 0

FOLLOWING victory in the week against Heybridge Swifts, Tilbury welcomed local rivals, Basildon United, to Chadfields on Saturday (8 March) and delivered an important win that sustains their chase for an Isthmian North promotion play-off place.

New signing Harrison Day and the returning Alfie Terry and Quelle Weekes joined the squad, with Tilbury youth player Harrison Wickens making his first appearance on the bench.

Dockers came close to opening the scoring after 15 minutes when Alex Hernandez recycled a chance on the left-hand side and set the ball across to Dan Trendall, but the eventual shot was dragged just wide of the near post.

Just two minutes later, Tilbury were denied the go-ahead goal when Connor Martin's deep cross saw the keeper flap at it and the ball fall to Jamie Reynolds at the back post. Reynolds directed his volley goalward, but his effort was cleared off the line.

However, the Basildon resistance could not hold on for much longer and, after some brilliant work by Trendall on the left wing who drove a low cross into a dangerous area, Kieran Jones was the first man to react and fired home to give his side the lead.

On the stroke of halftime, Tilbury manager, Marc Harrison received a red card for delaying the restart.

The hosts did not let this affect them though, as almost directly after the break, they doubled their lead.

Tilbury worked the ball up the pitch down the left and found Reynolds in acres of space on the opposite wing, where his first-time slotted finish was put past Rory Myles.

In the dying moments, Tilbury youth graduate and debutant Wickens had a chance to net his first senior goal. Day did brilliantly to hold off his defender and slotted a perfect pass through to Wickens, but the ball got caught between his feet, and Basildon were able to get bodies back.

Dockers are next in action with a tough test at third-placed Bury Town next weekend (Saturday, 15 March).