Tilbury 2, Walthamstow 2

TWO late goals snatched a point from the jaws of defeat for visitors Walthamstow in Saturday's (1 November) Isthmian North clash and the outcome dropped Dockers into the bottom four as Cambridge City's win at Waltham abbey lifted them up the table.

Tobias Braney returned to Tilbury starting line-up side, following his absence due to being cup-tied in the midweek Essex Senior Cup 8-1 win against Braintree. That was the same story for Hassan Nalbant, but he started the game amongst the substitutes.

The Tilbury squad with matchday mascots Tilbury Spartans U9s.

Familiar faces named in the Walthamstow squad included goalkeeper David Hughes, defender Jordan Peart and a member of Tilbury's 2023/24 Essex Senior League winning side, Callum Ibe.

The first opportunity of the match fell the way of the hosts, when Kieran Jones' corner was delivered deep towards the back post.

Darren Phillips was the target for much of Dockers' forward play. Picture by Paul Bocking. InFocus Photos

Darren Phillips was the target, and his header bounced back across the goal, waiting for a touch. Tobias Braney was first to react, flicking goalward, but his attempt was blocked on the line and cleared. However, the clearance was only as far as Jack Hayes, who cannoned a volley from the edge of the area, which was somehow denied by the face of Hughes.

Dockers came close again in the 40th minute after some brilliant hold-up play by Tobias Braney on the halfway line. The striker set the ball to Dan Trendall, who spotted Hughes off his line. Trendall tried his luck and almost pulled off the spectacular, but the ball bounced agonisingly wide of the target.

Just moments later, Walthamstow worked the ball up the other end and played it out wide to Malachai Belboda. The winger drove into the box before being brought down by Medo Konte, winning his side a penalty. Former Grays and Aveley player Elliott Sartorious stepped up, but he was unable to convert, blazing the ball a mile over the crossbar.

Tilbury came out from the break the livelier of the two sides and created multiple chances through set-piece situations. Phillips was consistently the target, and Walthamstow could not prevent him from winning every header but Hughes pulled off a couple of brilliant saves to keep the scoreline level.

The deadlock was finally broken by Tilbury, when Oli Spooner collected the ball on the left-hand side before chopping back onto his right foot and delivering a perfect cross. Trendall came flying in to meet it, beating Hughes in the air to head home.

Darren Phillips celebrates his goal. Picture by Paul Bocking - InFocus Photos.

Dockers doubled their lead soon after, through yet another corner which was met by Phillips. His first attempt was blocked, but he made no mistake firing home the volley on the rebound.

When everything looked to be going well for the home side, the tide changed, and The Stow began to build some momentum. They pulled a goal back through a wonder strike produced by Brian Garzon, as he bent his strike into the top left corner off the post from the edge of the area.

And there was time for Walthamstow to draw level, three minutes deep into stoppage time, when they won themselves another penalty as Jordan Peart went down in the box. This time, the responsibility fell to Tyrone Baker, who drilled his spot-kick into the bottom corner.

Matchday pictures by Paul Bocking - InFous Photos. Check out his superb match gallery here.

Dockers are back in action on Wednesday, 5 November, when they travel to face Downham Town.

SQUAD: Fairs, Reeve, Hayes ©, Phillips, Konte (Ward), Carter (Aderibigbe), Reynolds (Spooner), Jones (Brocklebank), Forbes, Trendall, Braney (Nalbant). GOALS: Dan Trendall, Darren Phillips.