Heybridge Swifts 0, Tilbury 1

TILBURY moved to the brink of the Isthmian North play-off places as they climbed above hosts Heybridge and recorded an impressive third successive victory at Scraley Road on Saturday.

Sam Bantick's brace on Monday was enough for Tilbury to take all three points from Redbridge and the Dockers looked to build on their recent form at Heybridge.

Lewis Clark's absence forced managers Marc Harrison and Liam Wallace to make just one change to their lineup as Jack Hayes returned in defence.

Tilbury came close to opening the scoring early on when Alex Hernandez flicked the ball around the corner to Dan Trendall, but his shot was straight at keeper Callum Chafer from a tight angle.

The visitors continued to pile on the pressure as Oli Spooner's long throw-in was headed clear, but only as far as Trendall who fired a volley just wide. Sam Carter spotted Spooner making a run beyond the defence from the next attack and picked him out perfectly.

However, the captain's first attempt was blocked and his second was dragged to the wrong side of the post.

On the stroke of halftime, Tilbury were awarded a penalty as Dan Trendall was being held and was brought down inside the area. Former Heybridge man, Sam Bantick stepped up to take the spot kick but blasted the ball off target.

Fifteen minutes after the interval, Alex Hernandez saw his looping volley well saved and tipped over the bar for a corner by Chafer. The resulting set-piece was whipped in by Bantick who found an unmarked Jack Hayes, but the defender couldn't get over the top of the ball and struck his effort over.

But The Dockers finally found the breakthrough courtesy of Alex Hernandez. The Aveley loanee gained possession and this time got the better of Chafer as he curled a beauty past the Swifts' keeper from afar to extend Tilbury's winning run to three games.

Dockers are back in action on Tuesday (8 October) when they travel to Newmarket Town (7.45pm).