East Thurrock United 1, Tilbury 2

LOCAL bragging rights went the way of the Dockers after this afternoon's (Monday, 29 August) derby at Chadfields where former Rocks boss John Coventry made a triumphant return to his former successful stamping ground.

The Tilbury win was all the more remarkable as they made the short trip to Corringham with a much-depleted squad for this Isthmian North clash after several players picked up injuries in Saturday's draw with Coggeshall. Damian Siemienczuk, Roman Campbell and Alex Clark were all ruled out from that 0-0 draw.

The visitors had no recognised forwards on the pitch but managed to produce a unified team performance, exemplified by the workrate of youngster Tom Salter who ploughed a frontline furrow as if his life depended on it and ran himself into the ground for his team's cause.

The first half was dominated by the Dockers and its opening goal was no more than they deserved, coming on 18 minutes from Adam Topley - who includes a brief spell at Rocks among a career CV that includes Brightlingsea Regent, Brentwood Town, Canvey Island, Aveley, Great Wakering Rovers and Concord Rangers. He was in the right place to latch onto a fluent move through midfield and net his first goal for the Dockers.

Such was the dominance of the visitors in the first half they ought to have put the match to bed but they were only able to go into the break two goals to the good thanks to a spectacular solo effort from Chris Millar seven minutes before half time when he cut inside from a wide position, shrugged off the lacklustre tackles of three Rocks players and clipped an exquisite curling shot past home keeper Harry Aldridge.

Home supporters, with three league defeats from three matches before today's derby behind them, were pretty despondent at half time but their side made a much improved effort on the resumption.

That almost resulted in a goal when a Tilbury attack broke down and the Rocks countered. The build up left a Rocks player on the ground suffering from what looked like a head injury and his teamates appealed for the game to be halted. Ref Joe Turnpenny, who showed a positive approach to keeping play flowing throughout the match, ignored the pleas as the Rocks pressed forward and his decision was more than justified as half time sub Daryl Byron-Samuels got a shot away - only to be thwarted by the outstretched leg of Dockers keeper Finley Thackaway.

And that improved level of effort from the home side led to a goal from Harry Hope on 64 minutes when he picked up the ball halfway into the Tilbury half and found space to delightfully place a low shot past the dive of Thackaway.

That possibly should have been a turning point, but East Thurrock were unable to build on its momentum and the game drifted towards something of an inevitable conclusion, with few outright chances.

In the closing moments Millar had a great chance to put the match beyond doubt but scooped his effort over the bar.

In the end it didn't matter as Mr Turnpenny called time on the match to spark celebrations among the Dockers fans, a mischievous grin on the face of John Coventry and more worries for Rocks supporters who see no points on the board after four matches and the fear of a second successive relegation growing.

They have a respite from league concerns next week with the arrival of Biggleswade FC in the FA Cup.

Tilbury, who were dumped out of the cup by Waltham Abbey, may welcome a break from action after losing in the last round as they have the chance to muster their resources, nurture their injured players and possibly seek to improve with new signings as players become available once the early season pressures on squads start to relax.