Tilbury FC 1, Staines Town 1 (Tilbury Win 4-2 on Penalty’s) Isthmian League Cup Quarter Final: Tilbury FC finally managed to get their League Cup Quarter Final game against Staines Town underway after the league initially expelled the Dockers from the competition. An appeal was made on behalf of the Essex side which was upheld which allowed the game finally to kick off against Ryman Premier League high flyers Staines Town on Wednesday March 4.

The Dockers field the same side that convincingly beat Ryman Premier League contenders Ramsgate by 3-0 in the previous Round.

The Opening exchanges saw Tilbury have much of the possession however, it was the visitors that came close in the 16th minute, the ball worked from the Staines backline showed their awesome pace and movement as the ball was worked down the flank and onto the foot of Scott Taylor whose effort went inches over the bar.

Tilbury, looking lively, continued to probe the Staines defence. Solid defending from Staines Skipper Danny Gordon cancelled out a Dockers move in the 23rd minute by Jamie Wallace and Jason Fontaine.

On 25th minutes Dockers celebrated a goal. The move started from a clearance by Junior Baker in the Dockers box, fell to the feet of Rashid Kamara as he set-off towards the visitors goal. Staines keeper Louis Wells out quickly as the ball rebounds off his own defender and into the path of the well placed Dockers front-man Manlee Brown who curls a long range effort into an empty net, 1-0 to Tilbury.

Tilbury continue to press the visitors goal. A great move from the right by Danny Smith into the path of Michael Black saw Black - with the ball at his feet - heads off towards goal and shoot from just inside the box and can only watch in agony as the ball whizzes inches passes the post.

Staines regained their composer and won a corner, the ball dangerously driven into the Tilbury box and Keeper Andy Hall punched to safety.

In the second period lively midfielder Jason Fontaine was off due to an injury and on cames Dean Stannard.

Staines looking more threatening in the second half as they come close after again some good work down the left hand-side. Dockers area and Marc Taylor-Smith hit the ball just wide of the post.

On 49 minutes Staines swung the ball into the Tilbury box and on to the head of Darti Brown forcing the Tilbury keeper to make a fabulous reaction save from close range which resulted in Hall palming the ball over the bar and out for another Staines Corner.

The Swans enjoyed lots of possession in the second period and came close once more the ball into the area to the feet of Taylor-Smith. Andy Hall came to the rescue with a great save to his right to palm the ball away to safety.

Tilbury makes their second substitute, Rashid Kamara off for Lucien Ntolla.

The last of the Tilbury substitutions saw Greg Cohen off for Zubair Hazeem.

As the clock ticked by into the dieing minutes of normal time, Staines earned another corner, the ball drifted onto the head of McDonald whose header smashed off the bar and out for a goal kick.

The Dockers defence made to work hard, Rickie Hayles, Junior Baker, Danny Smith and Joe Keith were stretched for virtually all of the second period and finally conceded a goal in the 5th minute of injury time from another Staines corner, the ball driven dangerously into the Tilbury box and headed home from close range to make it 1-1.

30 minutes extra time played which saw both sides have their chances but failed to deliver the killer punch. A penalty shoot-out needed to decide the winner that will face Billericay in the Semi-Final.

In the shoot out Tilbury’s Danny Smith drilled home the first penalty, Staines convert (1-1). Next up for the Dockers was Zubair Hazeem who coolly put the ball into the net. Andy Hall saved Staines 2nd penalty, Tilbury’s Rickie Hayles misses (2-1). Then Staines went level 2-2. Joe Keith scores 3-2 to the Dockers. Andy Hall once more makes a great save keeps the score 3-2. The Dockers Skipper took on the responsibility and the 5th penalty as he neatly drilled the ball into the net to start off the Dockers celebrations both on and off the field.

Tilbury will now face Billericay in the Semi Final at Chadfield’s on Tuesday 17th March – kick off at 19:45.

The evening capped a strange 48 Hours which saw the Dockers out of the competition one day and by sheer hard work and determination from everyone connected with the Football Club into the Isthmian League Cup Semi final purely on merit.

It would be a truly difficult task to pick a single Man of The Match from the performances on Wednesday nigh, however, one player who has been solid all season and confirmed on Wednesday night how important he is to this talented array of Tilbury players is goalkeeping hero Andy Hall, who was simply magnificent throughout the entire evening and indeed has been throughout the whole of the Season.

Man of the Match: Andy Hall – Penalty Shootout Hero.

Tilbury FC: Andy Hall, Danny Smith, Joe Keith, Rickie Hayles, Junior Baker, Jason Fontaine ,Jamie Wallace (Capt), Michael Black, Rashid Kamara, Manlee Brown, Greg Cohen, Subs: Lucien Ntolla, Patrick Gaskin, Nathan Philip, Zubair Hazeem, Dean Stannard Staines Town FC: - Louis Wells, Jake Newton, Dave Sargent, Danny Gordon, Marien Ifura, Gareth Risbridge, Dean Thomas, Darti Brown, Scott Taylor, Marc Charles-Smith, Howard Newton, Subs: Jon McDonald, Lee Kersey, Lewis Cork, Craig Maskell, James Courtnage.

Match Officials Referee: Mr P.J.Knight 1st Assistant: Mr W.R.Baker 2nd Assistant: Mr N.RBaker Att: 41