Tilbury 2,

VCD Athletic 1

RYMAN ONE NORTH:A LATE Sam Cutler effort saw the Dockers inflict a deserved win over the leaders VCD Athletic.

The victory was long overdue. It was only the second Tilbury win in 13 games. On a cloudy and windy afternoon, the Dockers started strongly and looked the most likely to break the deadlock. In the ninth minute, Nathan Ashton’s effort was well saved by the VCD keeper and, from the resulting corner, Ashton found the unmarked Joe Nightingill, who headed home. Ibemere – on the left for the visitors – produced some good runs that caused concern in the home defence and, before the break, he found Sam Gent who went close. Both Waters and Mead had good efforts on goal, before VCD equalised on half time when defender Barney Williams was left in space on the right and smashed home past the fingertips of Ramos. After the break, the Dockers defended very well.

A weak Gent effort was the closest the visitors could get. Tilbury made changes with both Gilbey and Blackman introduced and this gave the home side energy. In the final 10 minutes the game came alive. First VCD were reduced to 10 men when a poor challenge by Sam Gent on Mitchell Gilbey left the referee with no choice but to send him off. This did not stop VCD attacking and a good shot by substitute Moorse-Macdougall looked like going in but was well saved by Chico Ramos. With three minutes to go Sam Cutler blazed over when in front of goal. In the first minute of added time, good build up play by Gilbey saw him play a simple ball into the area. Blackman played the ball to Cutler and he sweetly shot into the roof of the net. A few seconds later the referee blew the final whistle and the result saw Dockers move up two places to 12th place in the table. Dockers manager Paul Vaughan said: “I am delighted with the win, it was a deserved victory for the boys.”

On Tuesday, Tilbury travelled to Waltham Abbey – after this edition of the Gazette had gone to press. Tilbury: Ramos, Mead, Waters (Gilbey 46), Nightingill, West, Christou, Babalola (Blackman 70), Ashton, Weemes (Francis 90), Cutler, Daniel.

Subs unused Crooks, Zanelli.