Maldon and Tiptree 0, Tilbury 2

TILBURY made a winning start to their Isthmian North campaign with a hard fought victory at the Wallace Binder ground where the goalscoring touch of Alex Clark, who has made a great start to season, proved the difference.

And the Dockers were also aided by the dismissal of Maldon's Laste Dombaxe in the closing stages of the first half.

Ironically, after suffering that blow – and conceding a goal early after the resumption - Maldon were the dominant side but they couldn't breach the Tilbury back line where Connor Martin was particularly impressive and a late second from Clark sealed the three points.

The game's defining moment was probably the dismissal of Dombaxe which contrasted to referee Steven Marr's early lax approach to discipline as he seemed content to let play go without resorting to his whistle.

Just before the break Dombaxe became involved in what looked initially to be an innocuous clash with Tilbury's industrious Billy Harris. Mr Marr blew for a free kick against Harris but as the incident unravelled the two players came together and the referee apparently spotted a raised hand from Dombaxe – who was distraught at the decision and took a long time to leave the field.

It opened the door for Tilbury and the visitors made the most of the man advantage in the second half.

The first half was even, through Maldon created the clearer chances and it wouldn't have been unjust had they gone into the break in front.

They had mounted all the early pressure on a parched pitch at Park Drive, though ironically the first clear opening fell to the Dockers but Tom Middlehurst pulled off a good save low at his near post to deny Clark, who frequently looked a threat with his runs from wide – often chasing down balls flicked on by Lewis Smith.

At the other end Maldon always looked dangerous on the counter, with some pacy breaks from midfield and from one of them, when incisive play cut open the visiting defence, it looked as if the Jammers had earned a penalty, or at least a free kick right on the edge of the box, when Brad Ihionvien challenged for a throughball and appeared to be upended but Mr Marr waved away what looked to be justified appeals.

Soon after Ihionvien did find himself through with a clear strike at goal, but his effort was almost comedic as he lashed the ball high, wide and not very handsome.

The Maldon pressure continued and George Forrest had a powerful header cleared off the line by Tilbury's Dquame Copeland and then a fierce shot by the impressive Harvey Sayer might have troubled Tilbury stopper Finlay Thackaway had it not been drilled straight at the keeper.

Laste Dombaxe (second right) begins the long walk after being dismissed.

Just before the dramatic sending off which ultimately turned the game, Maldon went closer still with a run and angled shot from the energetic Ihionvien that cannoned off the apex of upright and crossbar – though Thackaway was given credit for the slightest of touches.

That resulted in a corner that Maldon made a complete hash of and, when the ball broke to the other end, Harris and Dombaxe became engaged in their fateful clash.

The second half began, not unexpectedly, with Tilbury piling the pressure on the ten men and they gained quick reward when Smith slipped a ball through to Clark who fired home from an acute angle.

Bizarrely, the goal lifted Maldon rather than the visitors and for the next 35 minutes they dominated the match.

Half chance after half chance came and went but they were unable to convert any of them and, as so often happens, just as Tilbury were living on their nerves, the game was settled with a minute to go as a ball over the top set Clark free and he pounced to round Middlehurst and seal the match. It was the striker's fourth goal in two competitive matches this season after his brace in last week's FA Cup win at Milton Keynes Irish, and it was his cutting edge that ultimately proved the difference between two otherwise well-matched sides.

Tilbury will be back in action at Chadfields on Tuesday when they play host to Basildon United, whose season started with a 1-1 home draw with Heybridge Swifts today.