Dockers earn point at end of gruelling week (From Thurrock Gazette)

Dockers earn point at end of gruelling week

10:05am Monday 9th March 2009

• Print
• Email
• Share

Tilbury 1, Waltham Forest 1 Ryman League Division 1 North Saturday 7 March Tilbury on the back of a gruelling week of Football welcome Waltham Forest to Chadfield’s for Saturday’s League fixture.

The Dockers squad slightly depleted after their testing Quarter Final mid-week win against Staines Town.

The Dockers forced into extra time with almost the last kick of the game, whereby the Swans levelled the score 1-1. The players then put through a further 30 minutes of end to end Football.

The Dockers finally winning on Penalties by 4-2 and will meet Billericay Town in the Semi Finals of the Isthmian League Cup.

Saturday saw Chester forced to make changes due to injuries, in comes Dean Stannard for Jason Fontaine with a groin strain, also Nathan Philip in for Rickie Hayles carrying a calf injury.

Prior to the start of the game on Saturday saw a presentation made on behalf of the Ryman League, Isthmian official Mr Barrie Simmons presented Dockers Boss - Graham Chester with the Team of the Month award for February. This marked a magnificent month which saw the Dockers see off Ryman Premier League contenders Ramsgate in the 4th Round of the League Cup plus beat Ryman League Division One North leaders Aveley 2-1 away from home.

As the game kicks off, opening exchanges saw both teams settling down. The Dockers having most of the possession without testing the Stags defence.

11 Minutes and Waltham Forest should have converted a chance; Garry Richefond heads off towards The Dockers goal and from close range misses the target!

24 minutes gone and good combination from Greg Cohen down the left to the feet of Rashid Kamara who lifts the ball up into the path of Manlee Brown whose shot goes wide of the post.

26 minutes and Tilbury attack the stag’s goal, appeals for handball as the match official Mr Atkins points to the spot. Joe Keith steps up and drills the ball into the back of the net, 1-0 to the Dockers.

37th minute and the Stags nearly equalised, Guilherme Lopez sped off towards the Tilbury goal and from 7 yards out smashes the ball goal bound but is bravely blocked by the advancing Andy Hall.

Stags forced to make their first Substitute as Lopez looks badly hurt as is carried off the field.

39 minutes gone and the Dockers converge once more on the Stags goal, another sublime move down the left from Greg Cohen who swings the ball across field into the path of Dean Stannard, Stannard nutmegs Kye Ruel and cuts into the area, as he drops his shoulder to release a dipping shot that tests the Stags keeper (Eric Pudaloff) who is forced to palm the ball over the bar.

Second period and the visitors take the initiative and come close after some good work by the Stags skipper Spencer Harrison, results in Tony Fraser smashing the ball inches over the Dockers bar.

Concerns in the Tilbury camp as Andy Hall falls awkwardly and hurts his back. The Dockers keeper who has been in commanding form this Season stays on but doesn’t look his normal confident self.

62 minutes and Waltham Forest equalise, some good movement outside the box resulted in Tony Fraser drive the ball into the back of the net from 22 yards leaving Andy Hall rooted to the spot, 1-1.

Waltham Forest with the bit between their teeth looking for the winner come close in the 69th minute after some good work down the left from Hamada who gets to the by-line and crosses the ball onto the head of Richefond whose effort is off target!

Tilbury make their first substitute, Stannard off for Zubair Hazeem.

Waltham Forest now in control of the game, hit Tilbury on the counter. A pinpoint pass out from the Stags defence into the path of Hamada resulted in a one on one with the Dockers keeper coming out of his goal and Hamada smashing the ball over the Dockers bar!

The Dockers go looking for the sucker punch, Hazeem down the right sends the ball long into the path of Manlee Brown who does well to fend off two challengers and gets to the by-line, Brown then whips in a dangerous low ball across goal into the path of Kamara who is then muscled off the ball by strong defending by Spencer Harrison.

Second substitute for the Dockers, Nathan Philip off for Lucien Ntolla.

82 minutes and Stags Substitute Joel Palmer misses a great opportunity to take all three points. A long ball from inside the Stags half, resulted in Palmer with the goal at his mercy, but blast the ball over the bar! Lucky escape for the Dockers.

Into injury time and Hall to the rescue once more as Hamada from close ranges sends in a fierce effort, Hall to his left to palm the ball away to safety.

Waltham Forest continue to press the Dockers defence in the last reaming minute of the 5 extra injury minutes signalled by the match official, once more Joel Palmer heads off towards the Dockers goal, Junior Baker making a sliding tackle seems to make contact with the ball however, Palmer goes down and appeals for a foul! Mr Atkins waves play-on to the appeals and disappointment of the stranded Waltham Forest striker!

The Game finishing 1-1 and the Stags unlucky not to have secured all three points based on their second half performance.

Uncalled for and ugly scenes followed at the end of the game, which resulted in Joel Palmer, receiving a straight red card for aggressive behaviour towards the match official after the game had ended!

The Dockers looked worn out and depleted as they went through their warm-down routine. The players had given their all. 3 tough games in 7 days made this fixture look just one too many. A brave performance by the Dockers players against a side that is on the up and fighting for their very existence in the Ryman League.

Man of the Match Joe Keith – High work rate Tilbury FC: Andy Hall, Danny Smith, Joe Keith, Nathan Philip, Junior Baker, Dean Stannard ,Jamie Wallace (Capt), Michael Black, Rashid Kamara, Manlee Brown, Greg Cohen Subs: Lucien Ntolla, Zubair Hazeem, Patrick Gaskin, Billy Pittman, Jason Fontaine.

Waltham Forest FC: - Eric Pudaloff, Yaw Boateng, Kye Ruel, Gazmend Dauti, Olaqale Ojelabi, Spencer Harrison (Capt), Luke Stanley, Guilherme Lopez, Gary Richefond, Yacine Hamada, Tony Fraser, Subs: Joe Palmer, Mark George Dawson, Mike Ramkin, Ian Walsh, Danny O’Conner.

Match Officials Referee: Mr G. Atkins 1st Assistant: Mr S. Tate 2nd Assistant: Mr P. Christmas Att: 120

• Print
• Email
• Share