Tilbury 0, Great Wakering Rovers 0

TUESDAY night's Essex Senior League clash between old rivals and teams relegated from the Isthmian North last season ended in stalemate – though dockers almost grabbed the points with a shot that cannoned back off the bar deep in added time.

This was the second league match of the season for both sides – who both lost on the opening day and so they were keen to seize the initiative at the second time of asking.

Dockers made changes to the lineup beaten 3-0 by Athletic Newham on Saturday with Archie Edwards returning to the side. Keeper Anthony Page took the captain's armband and saw his team create the first chance oof the game after just seven minutes, as a long ball led to a goalmouth scramble when the ball came close to going over the Rovers goalline but was just kept out.

Further chances went Tilbury's way as they settled into the game, though it was the visitors who found the net when a counterattack was headed home but the assistant's flag was raised for offside.

More chances came Dockers' way before the break, with Izaih Antoine heading over and Tom Salter firing just wide.

However, the deadlock prevailed with Dockers again holding a slight edge after the break and going close again through Salter.

Wakering enjoyed a late resurgence and saw a couple of late chances go begging before the dramatic added time moment when a scramble of players saw the ball come back off Wakering's woodwork – to be shortly followed by the final whistle.

Tilbury are back in action on Saturday (5 august) when they travel to FC Romania (3pm) in the FA Cup extra preliminary round.