Fontaine strikes late for Tilbury winner (From Thurrock Gazette)

Great Wakering hoodoo laid to rest as Dockers win again

10:09pm Tuesday 9th December 2008 in News

Tilbury 2, Great Wakering Rovers 1
TILBURY maintained their recent Ryman One North resurgence with this win on Tuesday thanks to a late goal from Jason Fontaine.

Rovers, who have been dominant in these Essex derby fixtures in recent years, made the best possible start with a goal after five minutes through Jimmy Webb, who took an early strike at Billy Johnson’s cross and in doing so caught keeper Andy Hall off balance and he was an onlooker as the ball shot past him.

Dockers were level within five minutes through recent acquisition Manley Brown, playing up front in place of unavailable Tilbury top scorer Chris Stowe.

Brown, who was making his presence felt alongside Rashid Kamara pounced on a ball into the box and shot under the body of Richard McKinney.

Tilbury were to go on and dominate the rest of the half and felt they ought to have had a penalty on 41 minutes when Greg Cohen’s run on goal was halted by a foul from Johnson, but though he landed inside the box, referee Neil West adjudged the illegal challenge had been made outside it.

McKinney was called upon to make a fine save from Gary Burrell’s header just before half time, though he was beaten by a swerving 25 yard drive from Michael Black six minutes after the second half restart, but was grateful to see the ball crash off his crossbar.

Tilbury were the dominant side for much of the half, superbly led by Kamara who forced a save from McKinney.

Rovers’ chances were few and far between but Mark Cartlidge went close with a shot across the goal which flew just past the upright The winning goal came nine minutes from time when Kamara picked the ball up and ran at the Rovers defence, drawing three players to him before slipping the ball to Fontaine who beat McKinney at his near post, a rare blemish for the visiting keeper.

Rovers mounted a late surge without ever really threatening Hall’s goal and home supporters in the crowd of 78 were delighted to hear the final whistle confirm Dockers’ run of three successive league wins.

Ryman Division One North, up to and inc Tue, Dec 9

		P	W	D	L	F	A	+/-	Pts
1	Waltham Abbey	20	14	4	2	52	19	+33	46
2	Aveley	20	13	6	1	43	18	+25	45
3	Ware	20	14	2	4	43	25	+18	44
4	Brentwood Town	18	12	4	2	36	16	+20	40
5	East Thurrock United	19	12	2	5	40	25	+15	38
6	Concord Rangers	21	11	4	6	40	19	+21	37
7	Northwood	20	9	5	6	30	23	+7	32
8	Wingate & Finchley	17	8	7	2	31	17	+14	31
9	Redbridge	19	8	6	5	34	20	+14	30
10	Cheshunt	18	9	2	7	25	22	+3	29
11	Tilbury	21	8	4	9	32	30	+2	28
12	Leyton	20	8	3	9	33	28	+5	27
13	Potters Bar Town (-1)	20	7	5	8	28	27	+1	25
14	Maldon Town (-3)	19	8	3	8	25	26	-1	24
15	Great Wakering Rovers	20	6	5	9	27	34	-7	23
16	Enfield Town	18	6	4	8	36	40	-4	22
17	Thamesmead Town	21	5	6	10	25	38	-13	21
18	Chatham Town	20	4	2	14	20	39	-19	14
19	Ilford	19	4	1	14	10	43	-33	13
20	Waltham Forest	21	3	3	15	19	48	-29	12
21	Witham Town	17	3	1	13	19	51	-32	10
22	Hillingdon Borough	20	2	1	17	14	54	-40	7