Sporting Bengal United 2, Tilbury 3

TILBURY came from a goal behind to record what was a more comfortable Isthmian North win than the scoreline suggests at the Mile End Stadium on Wednesday evening (19 February).

The visitors, with recent signing and fans' favourite Darren Phillips back in Dockers' colours, created the first significant chance after 14 minutes and had claims for a penalty waved away. Phillips was at the centre of the incident, getting on the end of Kieran Johns' cross with a header that was blocked on the line. Tilbury claimed it was by the hand of a defender, but their claims fell on deaf ears.

Tilbury continued to press, and Jordan Clark forced a save from Sidi Haidara and then Phillips fired over when well-placed.

However, it was to be Sporting who took the lead on 26 minutes when Dockers didn't deal with a ball to the back post and Joe Gregory bundled the ball into the net.

It was a lead that Sporting took into the break, and it wasn't until just after the hour that Tilbury got on level terms. They won a corner when Alex Hernandez was foiled by Haidara's fine stop after getting on the end of another cross from Clark, but when the resultant dead ball kick was swung into the box Phillips was on hand to head home from close range.

And they took the lead on 69 minutes when Oli Spooner's long throw was flicked on, and Hernandez took the opportunity to finish at the far post.

Dockers were in the ascendancy and Jones went close with an effort before a third goal came on 77 minutes when a corner wasn't properly cleared, and Hernandez drilled a shot home.

Sporting got a late consolation from the penalty spot, Gregory adding his second in the last minute, but Tilbury held on to take all the points and move to seventh spot in the table as well as lifting spirits for Saturday's home clash with Mildenhall.