Tilbury 2

Soham Town Rangers 0

RYMAN ONE NORTH: THE DOCKERS caused a shock at Chadfields on Saturday.

Paul Vaughan’s Tilbury upset play-off hopefuls Soham Town Rangers with a great performance on a heavy pitch.

The overnight rain forced the referee to make two pitch inspections before finally giving the go-ahead. Soham were at Chadfields on the back of some good results – but they suffered against Tilbury, especially as they were down to 10 men for the last 28 minutes.

Dockers called on the services of both Jack West and Joe Obersteller. Vaughan gave a first 90 minutes to defender Ross Owen – and the defender returned the confidence with a good show of strength and timing in difficult conditions.

Tilbury started strongly with Harrison Tweddell shooting from distance before the visitors had a number of corners. Dockers opened the scoring on 16 when Piers Wixon’s classy crossfield pass found the busy Ryan Blackman. And he smashed the ball home.

The visitors had the ball in the net in the 19th minute – but the offside flag thwarted them.

Before the break Tweddell and Wixon both had good efforts on goal. And in the 55th minute Wixon was again in the thick of it, but his shot fizzed wide. On the hour Obersteller had a shot brilliantly saved by Ordonez.

The game livened up when a strong tackle by Blackman saw Jordan Gent sent off for a flailing arm.

The Dockers kept up the pressure and kept the ball for long periods, but had to wait until a minute into injury time for any rel reward.

Substitute Francis Babalola – who had been a thorn in the side of Dockers rivals – sprinted through.

But he was brought down in the box and the referee pointed to the spot.

Man of the match Piers Wixon stepped up to fire home and give Dockers victory.

Vaughan said: “It was a great result against a good football side. The lads played some good football and in the right areas.”

The result sees Tilbury remain in 14th.

Tilbury: Marrable, Johnson (Aldwinckle 81), Owen, Nightingill, S West, Pooley, Blackman, Obersteller (Babalola 81), Wixon, Cutler, Tweddell (J West 62) Subs unused: Keller.