Ipswich Wanderers 0, Tilbury 0

TILBURY'S hopes of adding to their Boxing Day success against Grays were thwarted by resolute Wanderers, who belied the 14 places between the Isthmian North teams and added their 11th point of the season that continues to see them cut adrift at the foot of the table.

However, they did put in a much-improved display at table-topping Felixstowe on Boxing Day, losing just 1-0, and they appeared determined to follow up in the same vein against Dockers.

Despite that, the visitors had all almost all the significant chances in Saturday's (28 December) match but were unable to convert them and had to settle for what will be seen as a disappointing draw as they slipped to eighth, three points off the play-off zone - though Dockers do have a match in hand on fifth-placed Waltham abbey and two on some of their other promotion-seeking rivals.

Tilbury made a bright start and early in the match Alex Hernandez forced a good save from home stopper Warren Burwood after getting on the end of Sam Bantick's free-kick.

At the other end, as Wanderers responded, George Marsh was required to do the same heroics between the posts to deny the hosts an opening goal.

On the half hour Tilbury did get the ball in the net through Bantick, but he was adjudged to have handled while setting himself up for his strike.

Dockers were then forced to make a change when Dan Trendall pulled up injured and he was replaced by Lindell Stewart.

On the hour Stewart went close to giving Dockers the lead but fired over from Jamie Reynolds' cross.

That was to be as close as it came to a breakthrough for either side in a mundane half and Dockers will know they have to lift their levels for the first match of the new year, away at another struggling club, Haringey Borough, on New Year's Day, kick-off 3pm.