Wingate & Finchley 1, Tilbury 2

TILBURY bounced back from the disappointment of Saturday's Isthmian North league defeat at Witham in the best possible fashion, knocking higher-league opposition out of the Isthmian Velocity Cup on their own ground on Tuesday night (12 November).

The game was won with two goals from striker Alex Hernandez, whose aggregate scoring means he has scored a goal a game in the 11 matches he has started since joining Dockers in late September.

Tuesday's cup win came against a side who sit third in the Isthmian Premier and Tilbury once again showed their resilience by coming from a goal behind.

That came just nine minutes into the tie at the art-deco Maurice Rebak Stadium in north London, when Ryan Lowe collected the ball on the edge of the area and produced a brilliant finish curling into the far left corner past keeper David Hughes.

Tilbury responded well and created several chances, with Sam Bantick and Kieran Jones both forcing saves from home stopper Fergal Hale-Brown, the one from Jones being particularly commendable.

Right on half time Bantick had another effort that was just wide so Dockers went into the break a goal behind.

It stayed that way until the 57th minute when Jones headed the ball on to Hernandez who found the bottom corner brilliantly with a half volley.

And the winner followed on 80 minutes when Hernandez took a free kick from an acute angle on the left and it curled in as Hale-Brown was distracted by Macauley Joynes as he dived forward in an attempt to head the ball. In the end it beat both him and the keeper, who could only flap a hand at it as he was unbalanced, and Tilbury had the lead.

Moments later Hernandez almost had his hat-trick and embarrassed Hale-Brown again with an audacious lob, but it was just wide.

The final meaningful action also saw Dockers pushing forward. Deep in added time more creative work from Jones set Dan Trendall way, but this time Hale-Jones came up trumps, tipping Trendall's shot onto the woodwork and Hernandez's follow-up was blocked.

However, it mattered not as the whistle followed soon after setting up another away trip and potential giant killing for Tilbury, who won the trophy in 2009 beating Harrow Borough in the final after a run that saw them beat three Premier Division sides, when they go to Hendon.

Tilbury also won the Trophy in its first year, 1975, and lost in the final the following season. Fans are now wondering if the hat-tick will be completed 15 years after Graham Chester's side lifted the trophy named in honour of former league chairman Alan Turvey, who presented it to captain Jamie Wallace who celebrated with teammates including Chris Stowe, who scored both goals in a 2-0 win.  

The date of the tie at Hendon is to be confirmed.

While Tilbury were enjoying their night in London, there was some disappointment in the league as three title rivals won.

Leaders Bury stretched their lead over Tilbury at the top to six points with a 4-3 win at Haringey Borough - but for much of the night that looked unlikely. 

Borough led 3-1 with 21 minutes remaining but Bury showed their title credentials to storm back with three match-winning goals.

Witham had things a touch more comfortable at struggling Ipswich Wanderers who they beat 2-0. 

Tilbury now sit fourth after Felixstowe and Walton United stretched their winning home run to 14 victories, beating Redbridge 4-0.

Dockers are back in league action, at home on Saturday (16 November) at the EMR Stadium when Redbridge are the visitors.