Heybridge Swifts 1, Tilbury 2

A COURAGEOUS last minute strike from the spot by Dockers' Ronnie Winn earned Tilbury three Isthmian North points from a hard-fought clash with struggling Swifts at Scraley Road on Saturday (14 March).

Lester Ward replaced the injured Joe Elliott, but otherwise Tilbury's management stuck with the side that drew 0-0 with Cambridge in their previous outing.

And Ward was at the centre of the action as Dockers came close to opening the scoring after 20 minutes, he was released down the left wing. Ward did brilliantly to beat his man and put a cross in, but the delivery just evaded the head of Soumen Nandi.

On the stroke of half-time, Nandi burst down the left and into the area and tempted Lewis Jaggs into making a foul challenge and won the penalty. Ronnie Winn stepped up to take it, but his spot-kick was tame, and Tommy Dixon-Hodge made the save, before getting up to deny Winn on the follow-up.

The sides went into the break goalless, but Swifts made the breakthrough three minutes after the restart courtesy of a long throw-in from Ramiah Mills, which was flicked on towards the back post by Grimes, where Joshua Colyer headed home for the lead.

Dockers responded on 58 minutes, when Jake Brocklebank was forced into the corner with two defenders pressing him. The midfielder got creative and found Ward with a back-heel, before Ward skipped past a challenge and drilled in a cross. Dan Trendall was the man sliding in, as he bundled the ball over the line.

In the dying moments, Trendall was given a lofted pass to chase and as the forward advanced into the area, Swifts substitute Giani Ashley fouled the striker, conceding another penalty and being shown his marching orders for a last-man foul.

The responsibility once again fell to Winn, who stepped up to the challenge, making no mistake with his second chance and he rifled the ball into the roof of the net to seal victory and complete the comeback.

SQUAD: Lawlor, Fry, Reeve, Hayes, Taylor, Ward, Brocklebank, Toussaint, Jones (Winn), Trendall, Nandi (Forbes). SUBS UNUSED: East, Wheatley, Weston.

Dockers are back in action on Saturday, 21 March, when they host Brightlingsea Regent.