Brightlingsea Regent 2, Tilbury 2

FOLLOWING a frustrating defeat in midweek against Stanway Rovers, Dockers's Isthmian North campaign continued with an Isthmian League trip to Brightlingsea on Saturday, 6 December and they came away with a point thanks to a late penalty converted by Kieran Jones.

Tilbury named an unchanged starting 11, with Alex Balisani and U18s EJA player, Jake Weston returning to the squad amongst the substitutes.

The hosts took the lead inside five minutes when Daniel Rowe picked up the ball on the left-hand side of the pitch. Rowe weaved in and out of two challenges before finding the back of the net from the edge of the area.

Soon after Regent thought they had doubled their lead after another strike from the edge of the area was saved, but pushed into the path of Ola Bello, who tapped the ball into the net. However, the linesman's flag was quickly up to disallow the goal for offside.

Dockers began to grow into the game and came close to scoring their first of the day when Dan Trendall was released down the right wing. Trendall skipped past the full-back before driving inside the area and firing his shot towards the near post. He was denied by the woodwork, and Ezra Agyiri was unable to turn home the rebound.

Tilbury would find the equaliser, as a long, bouncing ball forward was too much for Idreess Namisi to deal with. Tyler Forbes did brilliantly to apply pressure, win possession and take the ball around the keeper to level the scoring six minutes before the break.

But there would be enough time in added time for Regent to go into the interval with a restored lead, thanks to a poor mix-up at the back from Tilbury. Jack Clowsley was the first to react, pouncing on the loose ball before passing into the empty net.

After half-time, the visitors almost levelled the game up once more, when Trendall's dinked pass was met by Jones, who flicked the ball over the head of Luke Avenell. Jones' looped attempt struck the inside of the post and rolled across the line, but was not deemed to have crossed it.

On the hour mark, Ola Bello was on the receiving end of another disallowed goal, as he directed the ball into the net at the back post, before his celebrations were cut short by the linesman once again.

Brightlingsea could have been out of sight as a corner from the right-hand side was headed goalward, but an incredible save from Dion Henry kept Tilbury in the game.

And it proved to be vital, as in the final minute of stoppage time, U18s EJA player, Dan East drew a foul inside the box. Jones stepped up and made no mistake, snatching a point on the road for Tilbury.

SQUAD: Henry, Forbes (East), Reeve, Hayes © (Fry), Elliott, Ward, Winn, Amir, Jones, Trendall, Braney (Agyiri) (Balisani). SUBS UNUSED: Weston. GOALS: Tyler Forbes, Kieran Jones.

Dockers are back in action on Tuesday (9 December) when they travel to Billericay Town in the Essex Senior Cup Quarter Final.