Bower & Pitsea 1, Tilbury 0

AFTER the boost of a victory on Saturday, Tilbury's fluctuating fortunes saw them slip to another Isthmian North defeat this evening (Tuesday, 16 December).

Dockers made the short trip to Bowers & Pitsea with hopes of closing the six place gap between the eighth-placed side, but for the fifth time this season they suffered defeat on the road in the league.

They have just one win and five draws from 11 outings away from Chadfields, an Achilles heel that is keeping them from climbing the table.

For much of the game the sides were evenly matched - the winning goal didn't arrive until the 77th minute.

In a retro yellow strip, Dockers made a bright start and went close in the third minute when Ezra Agyiru burst through and bore down on Bowers stopper Joe Whitney, who proved up to the one-on-one challenge and denied the onrushing Docker.

At the other end on 20 minutes, it was the turn of Tilbury keeper Dion Henry to perform heroics as he made a good save at his near post.

It looked like the deadlock would be broken in Tilbury's favour just before the half hour when Tyler Forbes forced a save from Whitney. Dan Trendall pounced to make the most of the rebound, but he was brought down in the box. Forbes took the spot-kick - and Whitney saved the day again for Bowers.

There were chances at either end before the break, but no-one could take them and the sides went in level at the interval.

Another weaving run from Forbes five minutes into the second half saw him beat three players before finding Agyiri on the left. Agyiri cut inside and whipped his strike for the far top corner, but he's denied by the frame of the goal.

Action switched from end to end, and Tilbury were grateful for another good save from Henry that denied Rene Batlokwa.

But the keeper was powerless to stop the home side taking the lead on 77 minutes when a deep corner found Norman Wabo at the back post and he rifled home the deciding goal.

There was still time for Dockers to press for an equaliser and it almost came near the end when a fine run and cross from Lester Ward set up Luke Reeve but once more Whitney was in the way and Tilbury were denied by an exceptional save.

That was to be the nearest Dockers were to come and they will feel hard done by, having had a fair share of the match and being deserving of another draw.

They will have high expectations of bouncing back in style on Saturday (20 December) when bottom club Brantham Athletic, who have yet to win in the league this season, make the trip to Chadfields.

However, they may cast a nervous eye back to two earlier meetings this season. Tilbury were winning when their match at Brantham was abandoned and when they returned for a second go a couple of weeks later the hosts got a point from a 2-2 draw - one of only two they have picked up so far in their debut season at Step Four.