Tilbury 2, Bowers & Pitsea 2

TILBURY would have wanted more at the outset of this match against in-form promotion-chasing Bowers, but in the end will have been happy with the resilience and pride shown by a side reduced to ten men who still forced an equaliser deep in added time.

The visitors on Saturday, 17 January went into the match on the back of an unbeaten five game run, during which they scored 17 goals.

Tilbury were also in good heart after a win at Newmarket, though managers George Christou and Jack Toghli had to make changes with Mo Amir and Connor Martin both started in place of the injured Sam Carter and Alfie Fry.

Dockers had a chance to take the lead after 20 minutes when Dan Trendall brought the ball down in the middle of the pitch before turning and releasing Tyler Forbes. However, Joe Whitney was down well to his right-hand side to make the save.

The deadlock was eventually broken in the 35th minute, when Tilbury crafted an identical chance to the earlier one, as this time, Kieran Jones found Forbes in behind the defence and he drilled his strike low and found the bottom left corner.

However, it didn't last long as Bowers & Pitsea hit back on the stroke of half-time when Jamie Salmon's corner was whipped in, and the ball somehow crept in at the front post.

Tilbury FC U11's Ravens were matchday mascots. Matchday pictures by Paul Bocking, InFocus Photos.

Following the break, the hosts had a chance to regain their lead when Lester Ward's corner was flicked on at the front post by Trendall. Luke Reeve was the target, but he saw his headed effort fly just over the crossbar. In the 67th minute, Tilbury were reduced to 10-men, as Kieran Jones was given his marching orders for committing a foul as the last man in defence.

Jonathan Evans stepped up to take the free-kick and converted brilliantly with a well-stuck effort over the wall.

Despite having fewer men on the pitch, the home side continued to push for an equaliser, and it finally came in the 95th minute. Ward's beautiful delivery from the right wing found Tobias Braney, who headed home and earned a huge point.

SQUAD: Henry, Reeve, Hayes ©, Elliott, Martin (Braney), Brocklebank, Jones, Amir, Ward, Forbes T (East), Trendall. SUBS UNUSED: Wheatley, Forbes J, Weston.

Dockers are back in action on Saturday,  24 January they travel to face Redbridge.