HEYBRIDGE SWIFTS 4, TILBURY 2

A WEEK of mixed fortunes ended in a 4-2 defeat for Dockers as they began life without in-form Joe Nightinghill.

The centre-half made the move to rivals Grays Athletic last week, just days after Dockers were beaten at home to Blues.

Striker Sherwin Stanley and Tony Jacobs have been brought in by Tilbury and after an impressive league cup comeback against Premier Division side Hendon in midweek, with Stanley and Jacobs both getting on the score sheet and Dockers eventually winning on penalties, Tilbury were powerless to prevent a second straight league defeat.

Dockers took the lead in the 18th minute through top-scorer Danny Francis but Danny Cheek equalised for the hosts 10 minutes later.

On the cusp of half-time Heybridge took the lead through Luke Callandar. With Francis denied a late equaliser, Swifts then doubled their lead as Russell Malton made it 3-1 in the 87th minute.

Conor Mead was then judged to have handled in the box and so minutes later, Swifts were awarded a penalty which Cheek converted to make it 4-1.

Dockers nabbed a late, late consolation goal as Swifts keeper Eyres punched into his own net in the seventh minute of stoppage time.

Tilbury: Marrable, Mead, Barnes, Pooley, Crooks (Llewellyn 83’), Henty, Barnett (Jacobs 73’), Carlile, Stanley, Francis, Wraight (Waters 87’).