Redbridge 4, Tilbury 3

TILBURY fell just short as managers George Christou and Jack Toghli returned to the club where they built their reputations but were unable to build on the win at Newmarket and draw with high-fliers Bowers & Pitsea.

The visitors fought back from conceding two goals to gain parity, but ultimately lost out in a hard-fought Isthmian North match on Saturday (24 January) at the Techsoc.com Stadium as the hosts completed a league double following October's win at Chadfields.

Dockers made just one change from the starting 11 against Bowers, as Ronnie Winn replaced the suspended Kieran Jones.

The Motormen had the lion's share of chances in the opening stages and they managed to put the ball into the net after just six minutes. 

Malachi Napa was the man on the end of a cross from the left-hand side, but the linesman's flag was up to cut the celebrations short.

However, it would take around 30 seconds for Napa to break past the last line of defence again, and this time he stayed onside to slot the ball past Dion Henry for the opener.

Redbridge soon doubled their lead through Pedro Carvalho, who rose the highest to meet a cross from the right wing inside a quarter of an hour.

Dockers were handed a lifeline before halftime, when a deep corner fell to the feet of Dan Trendall before he was brought down in the area, winning a penalty for the visitors. The responsibility fell to Ronnie Winn, who made no mistake, rifling his strike into the net.

After the break, Tyler Forbes received the ball on the edge of the area and slipped a pass through to the late-arriving Jake Brocklebank, who made a surging run into the box and finished brilliantly past Samuel Nwabuko to level the scoring.

But just five minutes later, the hosts took the lead once again, thanks to another cross towards Napa, who headed back across goal and into the bottom corner.

Napa would eventually get his hat-trick with 10 minutes to go, when he made a run down the left-hand side of the penalty area, before producing a lovely finish, drilling his effort into the far corner.

There was still time for Dockers to pull another goal back, as in the 88th minute, Ezra Agyiri's cross was bent around the defence to the unmarked Trendall at the back post. But unfortunately, the away side were unable to find a late equaliser.

SQUAD: Henry, Elliott, Reeve (East), Hayes ©, Martin (Forbes J), Ward, Amir, Winn, Brocklebank (Braney), Forbes T (Agyiri), Trendall. UNUSED SUB: Wheatley.

Dockers are back in action on Saturday, 31 January when they play host to Downham Town.