Romford 1,

Tilbury 1

RYMAN ONE NORTH: TILBURY stopped the rot of four straight defeats by claiming a hard fought draw at Essex rivals Romford.

Both sides came into the match on wretched runs of form. Romford had won only one of their last ten matches whilst Dockers were on an even worse run with only one win in eleven.

This match was a tale of two late penalties after the first 85 minutes couldn’t separate the sides.

Both teams started cautiously, perhaps aware that neither could afford another defeat, and it was Romford who made the early running.

Tom Richardson forced an early save out of Tilbury ‘keeper Chico Ramos whilst debutant Danny Aldwinkle had the visitors best early chance, heading over at the near post.

The best chance of the first half didn’t come until ten minutes before the break. Danny Jones met a flowing move down the right on the half volley and his connection couldn’t have been sweeter but Ramos flung himself to his right to tip over the bar.

Romford goalkeeper Aaron Ormand was called into action before the break as he smothered an Aldwinkle shot but there were no goals heading into the break.

The home side came out sharper in the early moments of the second half.

Terrific interplay between right back Ottley and Richardson down the right deserved a goal but the forward lashed over when well placed.

Some terrific blocks by the Romford centre halves came to their rescue as the half went on, with Jack Berry proving an impassable barrier.

The rest of the second half was broken up with fouls and it looked as though a foul had given Tilbury all three points when they were awarded a penalty with five minutes to go.

Sam West was toppled in the box from a set piece and substitute Lee Weemes stepped up to smash home down the middle.

However, only four minutes later Romford were given a reprieve. Nick Reynolds was barged over by West and defender Paul Clayton kept his composure to drill his shot down the middle.

Astonishingly, Tilbury still had time to create another golden chance. Weemes was slid through and he was bearing down on goal, only to shoot straight at Ormand and see the chance of glory vanish.

Dockers boss Paul Vaughan said on any other day Weemes would have scored in the dying seconds.

“It is all about confidence and Lee knows it was a good chance but said the goalkeeper made himself big. “There is a long way to go in the league but all it takes is four or five good results and you are back in the mix. It is a bit of a battle at the moment but when we got the goal we kicked on only to be pegged back straight away.

“We have a tough game against VCD at the weekend but we are looking forward to it. We have important players like Rimmel back and Aldwinkle coming through so we are confident of moving up the league.”

Tilbury: Chico Ramos, Conor Mead, Aaron Waters, Joe Nightingill, Sam West, Joe Christou, Danny Francis (Gilbey), Nathan Ashton, Danny Aldwinkle (Weemes), Sam Cutler, Francis Babalola (Rimmel).

Gazette MOM: Jack Barry (Romford).

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