Welwyn Garden City 2, Tilbury 2

Tilbury win 4-3 on penalties

TWO saves from keeper Harry Fairs proved decisive as Dockers won through in a penalty shoot-out in their FA Trophy second qualifying round match at Herns Way today (Saturday, 20 September).

Fairs' saves set up the match-winning opportunity and Lester Ward converted the decisive penalty to put Tilbury through.

The match had ended all square after normal time, with City forcing the spot kick drama with an equaliser five minutes into added time.

It was City who opened the scoring 16 minutes into the encounter when Panny Boxer headed home from close range following a corner.

Dockers came closest to levelling when Lewis Taffe headed wide but they went into half time a goal behind.

And it took them 23 minutes into the second stanza to draw level through Dan Trendall, who sprang the home offside trap and got on to the end of of Connor martin's header to finish well.

Just six minutes later Trendall doubled his tally when he drilled home a left foot volley from a corner.

That looked to be enough for Dockers to go through but, deep in added time, City got an equaliser at the end of a goalmouth scramble.

In the shoot-out Fairs saved the first City strike and Jamie Reynolds handed Tilbury the initiative by converting his. Welwyn netted their next and things were levelled up when Medo Konte's shot was saved.

However, Fairs again showed his prowess and when Alex Balisani scored it was advantage Tilbuy again.

The next two penalties, including Luke Reeve netting for Dockers, were successful and Fairs couldn't keep out Welwyn's fifth strike. That set the stage for Ward, who had come on as a substitute and he made no mistake to send Tilbury through.