Tilbury 0, Ilford 1

DOCKERS kickstarted their 2024/25 pre-season campaign against Essex Senior League side, Ilford in a match played at Lakeside, fielding a side of familiar names from last season as well as two new summer signings: Jamie Reynolds and Alex Akrofi.

The bench consisted of trialists and Igli Metalia, who returned from injury.

Tilbury began the game on the front foot sending a deep cross into the penalty area toward Harry Donovan, whose header forced a save and earned his side a corner.

New man, Akrofi was close to finding the opener with a free kick just outside the Ilford penalty area. His strike dipped up and over the wall but was denied by the crossbar.

On the very next attack, Akrofi linked up well with Macauley Joynes to feed the full back on the left-hand side. Macca found Donovan in the area once again but a deflection directed the ball around the post and out of harm's way.

As we approached half-time, Akrofi was involved once again with a Tilbury chance. This time he set the ball back to Oli Spooner who fired an effort toward the near-side bottom corner, but the goalkeeper reacted well with a tidy save.

The Dockers continued to search for the breakthrough, and on the hour mark the ball bounced back out to Jamie Reynolds following a free-kick. Reynolds sent the ball back into the box and found Connor Martin, but the defender could not get his effort on target.

And in the dying moments Tilbury would pay for their missed chances as Ilford found a winner from nothing. It was a mistake by the goalkeeper who lost possession when trying to play out from the back and The Foxes capitalised by delivering a low cross and slotting into the net.

Dockers are back in action on Tuesday 16 July as we travel to Bowers and Pitsea for the Quarter Final of the Thames-Side Trophy.