FC Clacton 2, Tilbury 1

A GOAL three minutes into added time denied Dockers any reward from their Essex Senior League trip to the Austin Arena on Saturday (11 August).

It came when the visitors were reduced to ten men after Harry Donovan was sent to the sin bin - the 'temporary' dismissal rule enforced at all levels below step four in the non-League system.

The Seasiders had opened the scoring on 20 minutes through Charlie Collis when he outpaced the Dockers defence and clinically netted past keeper Anthony Page.

Dockers had few chances, the best being an effort from Daniel Trendall that went just wide before the break but they were better in the second half.

And ultimately they drew level on 76 minutes when Page kept Dockers in the game with a save and quickly sparked a counter attack that led to Harry Hope crossing and Brian Moses was on hand to score the equaliser from close range.

Five minutes later Dockers thought they had the lead when Tom Salter netted but he was ruled to have been offside. It was a controversial decision that led to Donovan's frustration being vented and he made the trip to the bin.

To cover the gap, Moses was sacrificed as an attacking option and Igli Metalia came on in a holding role.

It was a tactic that appeared to have worked as Tilbury held on but they were finally undone when Reuben Cowler crossed deep in added time and Jack Marshall latched on to the ball to score.

Dockers can bounce back quickly when Sporting Bengal United visit the EMR Stadium in the league on Tuesday evening.