Bowers and Pitsea 0, Tilbury 0

(Bowers win 5-3 on penalties)

AFTER opening up the pre-season campaign with a 1-0 defeat against Ilford at Lakeside, Tilbury had a more competitive task in Tuesday's (16 July) Thameside Trophy quarter-final against Bowers & Pitsea.

Twins, Lewis and Jordan Clark made their first appearances in a Tilbury shirt as well as striker Sam Bantick.

The Dockers started brightly with a few half chances but nothing to trouble the keeper. And it was Tilbury's Christian North who was forced into the first save of the game when he tipped an effort onto the post and managed to hold onto the ball before it crossed the line.

Tilbury were next to form an attack with Alex Akrofi battling well to craft an attack from nothing. Akrofi spread the play out to Dan Trendall and the winger's cross found Bantick at the back post. However, his volley couldn't find the target.

On the half hour mark, a slip from a Tilbury defender allowed the Bowers number 9 a chance one on one. North stood tall and made the save.

The visitors were quickly up the other end with a quick break down the left-hand side. The ball made its way to Sam Carter who punched a pass into Jordan Clark in the middle of the park. Clark drove forward before lining up an effort from distance which flew just wide of the far post.

After the break, a cross was sent into the area and forced home goalkeeper David Hughes to commit.

However, Hughes missed the ball as it was headed down to Trendall who struck a shot toward the stranded goal. The effort was blocked by what looked like a Bowers arm but despite Tilbury's protests, the referee waved away their claims.

With 20 minutes left on the clock, the hosts won a free kick in a dangerous area on the right-hand side of Tilbury's penalty area. TQ Addy was the man to take the set-piece and his attempt dipped just too late as the crossbar denied Addy's strike.

That was all the 90 minutes had to offer, and a penalty shootout followed Bowers and Pitsea were perfect from the spot as they scored all five and Tilbury were defeated as sub Ramsey put his spot kick over the bar.