Walthamstow 2, Tilbury 1

TILBURY'S hopes of a third Isthmian League North win on the spin were dashed at Wadham Lodge on Saturday (28 February).

Dockers named an unchanged starting line-up from the preceding win against Takeley while Tyler Forbes and Dan East returned to the squad among the substitutes.

The visitors almost took the lead directly from kick-off, as they worked an opportunity down the left wing. The ball came to Jake Brocklebank in the area, looking to add to his goal against Takeley. However, his strike flew over the crossbar.

It didn't take long for Walthamstow to trouble the Tilbury back-line, as soon after two former Dockers linked up. Jordan Peart drilled a cut-back to Callum Ibe from the left-hand side, but Ibe's effort bounced back off the far post.

And still inside just seven minutes, the visitors were down the other end once again. Kieran Jones brought down the ball in the middle of the park, before slicing open the Walthamstow defence to release Dan Trendall. The forward raced past the defender but was unable to find the target.

Dockers continued to search for the opener as Malaki Toussaint found Lester Ward on the left. Ward did very well to find space for a cross and Trendall was the target, but his header bounced agonisingly wide.

On the half-hour mark, Tilbury were finally rewarded for their persistence as skipper Jack Hayes broke the deadlock. The opportunity came from a Joe Elliott trademark long throw.

Walthamstow managed to clear, but only as far as Hayes, who cannoned his strike into the net from the edge of the area.

But after the break, as much as Tilbury were rewarded, they were also punished for the missed opportunities in the first half, as Walthamstow were awarded a penalty. 

Brian Garzon stepped up and placed his spot-kick into the bottom right corner to level the game.

The hosts began to take control and almost took the lead, when a deep corner was won by Chris Regis who rose above his marker to head goalward. The ball bounced off the

bottom of the crossbar and was somehow cleared off the line by Luke Reeve.

In the dying moments, a back pass to the keeper was too short and Billy Lawlor had to make a challenge. Despite Lawlor seeming to have won the ball, the referee pointed to the spot. Garzon was handed the responsibility and it was the same outcome as his first, winning all three points for Walthamstow.

SQUAD: Lawlor, Toussaint, Reeve, Hayes ©, Elliott, Ward, Brocklebank, Winn (East), Jones, Nandi (Forbes T), Trendall. UNUSED SUBS: Forbes J, Fry, Taylor.

Dockers are back in action on Tuesday (3 March) for the re-arranged fixture, away against Felixstowe & Walton United.