Tilbury vs Witham Town (From Thurrock Gazette)

9:35pm

Well they looked down and out, Tilbury.

But what a big three points that could prove to be. A debut goal for Barnett and a leveller for the passionate (and at times very angry Nightinghill).

Great comeback.

Report later - i'm off to speak to Vaughan.

Thanks for joining us this evening!

9:30pm

GAME OVER

9:29pm

Witham, having been so good at the start of the second half, now find themselves with it all to do.

Free kick to Tilbury now, right in the Witham corner. And that's where the ball will stay.

Barnett booked for dissent as a Witham free kick is given. Cue throngs of abuse aimed at the referee from the Tilbury fans down that side.

9:23pm

What a game this has been. Barnes through ball feeds in Aiken who is wiped out on the left hand corner of the penalty area by keeper Sambridge. He's booked.

Up steps Joel Barnett on his debut, to send Sambridge the wrong way and give Tilbury a 2-1 lead.

Great stuff.

9:20pm

PENALTY TO TILBURY! 

9:19pm

Good ball into the box by Lopez, if a little deep, but Darg gets up and heads just wide.

Momentum swinging all the time. Impossible to call this.

9:18pm

OFF THE BAR! Rhys Darg has just smashed a header from a corner against the bar. Unmarked again!

9:17pm

Well that goal had been coming!

Here's how: Danny Smith hit a great free kick from 25 yards that was saved for a corner.

The resulting corner came in. The ball bounced around and Francis smashed the post. Then a shot came in from Francis that was saved, but Nightinghill - who else? - was there to poke in the rebound

9:11pm

Wonderful stuff from Joel Barnett! A delicate touch sees him beat his marker from midfield, then from 30 yards, he tries an audacious chip. Everyone "tuts" as it looks like its travelling over, but it catches everyon out, including Sambridge and comes off the bar!

9:09pm

9:08pm

Joel Barnett is on for Tilbury. Joel was released from Thurrock a couple of weeks ago. He replaced Aiken a little while ago (I missed that, I apologise.)

9:07pm

Opportunity blown - ball cleared after a few good blocks.

Games getting very bitty and the referee is struggling to keep a lid on it. I'd say the chances of 22 men being on the pitch come full time are slim to none!

9:06pm

Scott Pethers is booked for kicking the ball away after a free kick is conceded. Opportunity, at last, for Dockers.

9:05pm

Another chance for Witham as Bradley Stopher storms up from the back for a corner and heads over, again unmarked.

9:03pm

Joe Nightinghill is really talking himself into trouble. Lots of passion from the Dockers centre half, but he's angry about the way the referee counted the distance between the wall and the ball. And boy is he letting him know. Joe even began counting the steps himself!

8:59pm

Should be two for Town! Daniel Lopez chased a back pass into the box. The header back was by Barnes, but Marrable had already begun going in the other direction.

He recoverd to push the ball away as Lopez made to tap the ball in. Poor defending.

8:56pm

Big response needed from Dockers now. They cannot keep the ball at the moment.

8:55pm

Well it was a terrible corner to concede. Danie Lopez headed the ball out of his own half, it was missed by Pooley and Nightinghill and chased by Darg and Whitnell. Pressure from Whitnell forced Nightinghill to head it behind.

The corner was played into the near post, and unmarked, Whitnell headed into the bottom corner. Tilbury very much second best so far in the second half.

8:48pm

Yellow card for Carlile for a foul on Darg midway inside the Tilbury half

8:48pm

Witham have started the half the brighter here, winning a series of free kicks and corners. Robert Whitnall has just headed a long free kick wide.

8:46pm

Tilbury sub:

Tom Wraight replaced by Aaron Matthews. Think Wraight is injured, he was moving uneasily at the start of this half.

8:45pm

There are 72 here at Chadfields tonight.

8:42pm

I've just heard a whistle from beneath where i'm sitting - (the changing rooms are below me) - which indicates the second half is about to begin.

Witham Town are out first.

I wonder if there's any correlation between whether a team is back out from half time first, and whether they go on to "win" the half? If you happen to have any idea, comment on here, or email me matt.abbott@nqe.com.

Excellent.

8:37pm

I didn't get a chance to explain the key change to the Tilbury side that drew with Sudbury at the weekend. Paul King, who suffered an injury to his nose (he tweeted that he'd broken it) is rested tonight, hence Jack Pooley's inclusion.

8:36pm

Grays repeated efforts to secure their place in the second qualifying round of the FA Trophy are going well. They're 2-0 up against Middlesex side Ashford Town.

Aveley are level pegging at 1-1 with Waltham Abbey. Both sides scoring from the spot there!

8:33pm

A decent enough half here. Tilbury will be disappointed not to lead. Witham will be pleased that their endeavour means they're still in this.

Aiken has smashed the post for Grays and Francis has had one or two chances, one forced a good save from Sambridge, the other was a header which he might have done better with.

Dockers grew into the game, with Wraight becoming more influential on the game.

Should be an exciting second half!

8:29pm

8:28pm

Another chance squandered by Dockers. A lovely ball in by Wraight again, Francis rises but can't divert his header goalward. Nor can Aiken convert as the ball goes loose. Still 0-0.

8:26pm

A yellow card now for James Stevens after he caught Aiken late. The Dockers striker deceived him with a bit of skill. No advantage for Tilbury though, so it's a free kick just inside their half

8:23pm

Aiken and Whitnell booked following a coming together, but Tilbury have a free kick. It's a strange one. I think Whitnell's booking is for the foul and Aiken's for over-zealous protesting.

8:21pm

Great curling ball in by Wraight. Francis heads goalwards from 16 yards, but Sambridge collects.

8:20pm

Aiken smashes the post!

Great football from Francis who makes a real nuisance of himself down the right. His persistance sees him wriggle into a crossing position.

The ball is pushed out, but from 8 yards on the turn Aiken smashes the post.

Tilbury have been excellent in the last 10 minutes.

8:18pm

Wraight and Aiken have switched flanks in this 433 formation. Wraight already looking lively in there. Two great balls in, both cleared well. Tilbury holding the ball in the Witham half at the moment.

8:16pm

Good football from Dockers. Nice exchange down the right between Carlile and Smith. Smith crosses, Aiken dummys and Francis sees his low effort blocked by the legs of a Witham centre half.

Here comes the rain again!

8:14pm

Really is a frantic game. Tilbury are collecting the ball but trying to pass it on too quickly. Witham look organised and Rhys Darg, like most of the team is working very hard.

Emiel Aiken seeing a lot of the ball playing in a wide attacking right position, but unable to set anything up as yet.

8:09pm

It was absolutely pouring with rain as the players warmed up. No rain now, but the pitch is very wet, which is undoubtedly having an impact on the game.

Tilbury seem keen to bypass midfield today. Can't see that working when they have Francis buzzing around up front.

8:05pm

8:04pm

Great effort from Scott Pethers from a good 35 yards out. Barnes heads a free kick clear, it's collected by Pethers, who beats a man and shoots, forcing Marrable to tip the ball over. Better from Witham now.

8:03pm

Lots of efforts on goal from Dockers so far. Wonder if that's something Vaughan has encouraged after Saturday. Aiken shoots from outside the box again, with Sambridge gathering.

8:01pm

Tilbury turning the screw here now. Lots of possession in the Witham final third. Comes to an end as Henty catches a volley with the outside of his boot to send it spiralling high and wide.

7:59pm

Great strike from Aiken, skims off the wet surface from 20 yards. Sambridge is down to parry and then block Francis rebound effort from a tight angle.

7:58pm

Better play from Dockers as Aiken, Llewellyn and Barnes work the ball outside the Witham area. No final ball on this occasion but much better possession.

7:57pm

7:57pm

Witham on top just now. Good football from the boys in yellow, as they work the ball in from the wing. Rhys Darg's ball through is just too late though as Whitnell is called offside.

7:55pm

Another frantic start here at Chadfields, as it was on Saturday. Dockers just struggling to string passes together. Witham working hard in the middle.

7:54pm

7:54pm

Good corner by Town's James Stevens, but it's headed just over. Best chance so far for Witham.

7:51pm

First good chance for Tilbury and Sambridge is forced to make a good save.

A wonderful ball by Emiel Aiken sets Danny Francis away, he takes the ball a little wide and fires his shot across Sambridge, who springs to his right to palm the ball away.

7:49pm

Ok, following a whole host of technical glitches, we are underway here!

Danny Smith makes his 150th appearance for the club tonight and is skipper.

Little to report from here so far. Both sides looking positive. Expecting a few goals here!

7:48pm

Tilbury:

Marrable; Smith (c), Pooley, Nightinghill, Barnes; Llewellyn, Henty, Carlile, Wraight; Francis, Aiken

Witham Town:

Sambridge; Pethers, Deveaux, Stopher, Murfet; Emmanual, Goobold, Stevens, Lopez; Darg, Whitnell

7:44pm

Good evening and welcome to our LIVE coverage of Tilbury vs Witham Town.