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2008
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Dockers hammered as relegation battle catches up
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| KURT SMITH: 14th goal of the season. |
Tilbury 2, Ware 5
TILBURY face a nervous second half of the season and are now firmly embroiled in a Ryman Division One North relegation battle.
Having conceded five goals in successive fixtures and without a win since September 25th, Dockers are now casting anxious glances over their shoulder at Wivenhoe and Ilford. Both looked cut adrift at the bottom but have picked up recently.
Tilbury are nine and five points ahead respectively, with a number of games in hand but on Saturday's form they will wonder where their next positive result is coming from.
They were distinctly second-best in every aspect and though they can rightly point a finger at a shocking performance from referee Andrew Parker, no right-thinking onlooker could say the result wasn't anything other than a fair representation of play.
Ware had already had the lion's share of possession and forced a good save from young keeper Danny Spendlove before they were awarded a contentious penalty on 12 minutes.
Nathan Phillips was lucky to escape a caution for hacking down Joe Stevens as the Ware man forged through on goal but when the subsequent free kick was struck at goal Paul King and Phillips jumped in the wall with their arms raised and Mr Parker thought the deflection worthy of a penalty, though Tilbury claim the ball had been charged down by John Hefford and came off his chest.
Either way, it was a marginal decision but Scott Neilson didn't worry about that, driving home the spot kick for the first of his four goals.
There was no disputing the validity of the second goal three minutes later when appalling play by Andre Humphreys gave the ball away cheaply in the Ware half and with his team-mates out of position the ball was quickly played forward.
King was exposed and fell as he was overwhelmed by yellow shirts, the ball breaking kindly for Neilson who slotted it past former Grays Athletic youngster Spendlove who must be wondering what he has got himself into, conceding double figures in the two games since his Dockers debut, though he couldn't be blamed for any of the goals against Ware.
While Humphreys was culpable in the first instance for the goal, his midfield colleagues must take a share of the blame for Tilbury's ineptness. Humphreys, Philip, Luke Stanley and Hefford were toothless in the tackle and couldn't string a constructive pass together between them.
Hefford limped out of the action soon after the second goal with an ankle injury and though his replacement Danny O'Connor ran about a lot he was also a lightweight punching above his weight, though his enthusiasm couldn't be questionned and he showed flashes of the quality player he might well become.
And true, Humphreys almost redeemed himself with a run and cross that set up the only real chance of the half for Lee Springer, the striker popping the ball into the arms of keeper Luke Woods after it bobbled just in front of him, but it was a shameful first half display from the whole midfield pack.
Whatever manager John Lawrence had to say at the beak did improve things on the restart and for a while Tilbury held their own, prompting expectations of yet another Chadfields fightback.
| AN interested spectator at Chadfields on FA Cup third round day was rare visitor Kenny Gray. 30 years ago he playd for Dockers in their biggest ever match, the FA Cup third round clash at Stoke. Kenny had scored the winner against Nuneaton in the second round. | |
|
However, hope withered as Ware moved up a gear in the final quarter.
Tilbury were lucky to escape when a Jay Taylor misplaced header created a glorious opening only for John Frendo to smash the ball against the crossbar with the goal at his mercy but the nails in Tilbury's coffin were driven home soon after.
On 70 minutes Spendlove did well to get fingertips to an angled shot from Frendo at the expense of a corner. Tilbury cleared the cross but Mr Parker added to his growing list of blunders by ordering the kick retaken for reasons known only to himself - it seemed he thought Ware were going to make a substitution.
They didn't and why Tilbury should be penalised for his misjudgement is beyond me. Unfortunately so was the ineptitude of the Tilbury defending when the ball came in a second time, Neilson getting time and space to pick his hat-trick spot.
With Tilbury in pieces the fourth Ware goal came courtesy of another penalty four minutes later, this time there being no complaint after Taylor hacked down Ware's Danny Spendlove, whose namesake in the Tilbury net had no chance as Neilson smashed in the penalty.
And it was a former Docker, Danny Wolf who drilled home a fifth goal from the edge of the box on 76 minutes to compound Tilbury's misery.
Ironically, they then embarked on their best spell of the match, perhaps spurred on by the introduction of Martyn Guest for his first appearance in six months because of injury.
He gave much-needed bite and presence to the midfield and played a part in the build-up to Tilbury's opener which came when Kurt Smith, until then an isolated, lonesome figure, was felled in the box and he picked himself up to convert the match's third penalty, his 14th of the season.
And there was even time for a second Tilbury goal with three minutes to go when Smith's belligerence around the box opened the door for Springer to slot home from close range.
Humphreys, who must give his manager a real headache with hugely contrasting performances from match to match, got one himself after being clattered in the closing stages in a collision with Wolf. The referee hadn't got a clue what happened and didn't blow for a foul until the Tilbury players appealed vociferously. Then he booked Wolf apparently purely on Tilbury's say-so, despite the linesman who was just several yards away saying he hadn't seen anything untoward.
The incident summed up Tilbury, a lot of huff and puff about nothing important in a make-believe performance as the Wolf and his mates thoroughly blew their house down.
They will need to get real very quickly.
Tilbury: Danny Spendlove, Gbenga Sonuga, Danny Smith, Jay Taylor, Paul King, Nathan Phillip (Martyn Guest), Andre Humphrey, John Hefford (Danny O'Connor), Kurt Smith, Lee Springer, Luke Stanley (Erkan Yusuf). Subs not used: Paul Agu, Babatunde Olagunju.
6:42pm Saturday 5th January 2008
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CommentPosted by: J. Wentwort, Tilbury on 7:28pm Sat 5 Jan 08
Another shambles by Spendlove, 10 goals in 2 games. Awful.
Another shambles by Spendlove, 10 goals in 2 games. Awful.
Posted by: Kevin on 8:04pm Sat 5 Jan 08
J. Wentworth - you are an idiot. How was the kid to blame for any of the goals today? Two were pens, one was shot through a crowd of defenders and he was left unprotected six yards out for the other two. Were you even there? Tilbury were awful outfield but don't blame the keeper.
J. Wentworth - you are an idiot. How was the kid to blame for any of the goals today? Two were pens, one was shot through a crowd of defenders and he was left unprotected six yards out for the other two. Were you even there? Tilbury were awful outfield but don't blame the keeper.
Posted by: tfc on 9:48pm Sat 5 Jan 08
the keeper was quality he made a blinding couple of saves in the first half. the team selection was wrong yet again. a right back at left back a central midfielder at centre back who was awful. dropping the wrong players yet again. as for the right back he might as well of stayed at home.
the keeper was quality he made a blinding couple of saves in the first half. the team selection was wrong yet again. a right back at left back a central midfielder at centre back who was awful. dropping the wrong players yet again. as for the right back he might as well of stayed at home.
Posted by: tfc on 10:30pm Sat 5 Jan 08
oh and the keeper was crap as well.
oh and the keeper was crap as well.
Posted by: alf, tilbury on 5:10pm Sun 6 Jan 08
tfc, spot on with your comment this week but abit harsh on the keeper. we need to educate the few big time charlies of the team that they are at there standard of football and to stop shifting the blame of there mistakes onto the genuine players who want to see the club move on in the right direction. agree with the team selection thing and playing players out of position when there are players capable and available to do so. seems sometimes that players are played to just keep them happy, same applies with formations. if its not then stop doing it. good luck for tuesday chaps and providing these players who think they are better than what they are, muck in, accept responsibility and play as a TEAM, yes a, TEAM then just maybe we can start grinding a few results out. what happend with treating a negative thing with a positive attitude? one of the first basic things in life i was taught! c'mon everyone at tilbury, genuine positive support. regards, alfie.
tfc, spot on with your comment this week but abit harsh on the keeper. we need to educate the few big time charlies of the team that they are at there standard of football and to stop shifting the blame of there mistakes onto the genuine players who want to see the club move on in the right direction. agree with the team selection thing and playing players out of position when there are players capable and available to do so. seems sometimes that players are played to just keep them happy, same applies with formations. if its not then stop doing it. good luck for tuesday chaps and providing these players who think they are better than what they are, muck in, accept responsibility and play as a TEAM, yes a, TEAM then just maybe we can start grinding a few results out. what happend with treating a negative thing with a positive attitude? one of the first basic things in life i was taught! c'mon everyone at tilbury, genuine positive support. regards, alfie.
Posted by: policeman, new scotland yard on 8:16pm Sun 6 Jan 08
GOTTCHA
I wonder if your have all the mouth on tuesday !!!!!!!!!
In life people often get so carried away with theremouth they trip up and boy have you tripped up
see you tuesday and you can say all this face to face
GOTTCHA
I wonder if your have all the mouth on tuesday !!!!!!!!!
In life people often get so carried away with theremouth they trip up and boy have you tripped up
see you tuesday and you can say all this face to face
Posted by: oi oi oi, east essex on 8:46pm Sun 6 Jan 08
[quote][bold]tfc[/bold] wrote:
the keeper was quality he made a blinding couple of saves in the first half. the team selection was wrong yet again. a right back at left back a central midfielder at centre back who was awful. dropping the wrong players yet again. as for the right back he might as well of stayed at home.[/quote] so mr tfc please tell
a right back at left back ? well i thought danny smith was very solid at left back
a central midfielder at centre back you say well cockhead jay taylor is a centre back
and what players did get dropped who could have made the team better ????
yes the right back was poor but so were most of the team
anyway who was dropped and should have played? lol mate its like looking through clear glass who you are and mate i will have a word next time i see you ok ? BTW nice glasses
tfc wrote:
the keeper was quality he made a blinding couple of saves in the first half. the team selection was wrong yet again. a right back at left back a central midfielder at centre back who was awful. dropping the wrong players yet again. as for the right back he might as well of stayed at home.
so mr tfc please tell
a right back at left back ? well i thought danny smith was very solid at left back
a central midfielder at centre back you say well cockhead jay taylor is a centre back
and what players did get dropped who could have made the team better ????
yes the right back was poor but so were most of the team
anyway who was dropped and should have played? lol mate its like looking through clear glass who you are and mate i will have a word next time i see you ok ? BTW nice glasses
Posted by: J.Wentwort - (Fat Noob), Essex on 11:59pm Sun 6 Jan 08
[quote][bold]J. Wentwort[/bold] wrote:
Another shambles by Spendlove, 10 goals in 2 games. Awful.[/quote] LOL AT THESE NOOBS WHO NO NOTHING.
J. Wentwort wrote:
Another shambles by Spendlove, 10 goals in 2 games. Awful.
LOL AT THESE NOOBS WHO NO NOTHING.
Posted by: nemo, essex on 1:13pm Mon 7 Jan 08
[quote][bold]J.Wentwort - (Fat Noob)[/bold] wrote:
[quote][bold]J. Wentwort[/bold] wrote: Another shambles by Spendlove, 10 goals in 2 games. Awful.[/quote] LOL AT THESE NOOBS WHO NO NOTHING.[/quote] I do know that this is the correct spelling for "KNOW".
J.Wentwort - (Fat Noob) wrote:
J. Wentwort wrote: Another shambles by Spendlove, 10 goals in 2 games. Awful.
LOL AT THESE NOOBS WHO NO NOTHING.
I do know that this is the correct spelling for "KNOW".
Posted by: bernard, earth on 3:14pm Mon 7 Jan 08
Here we go again !!!!!
Could it be fans .. players..or family ?
my money is on players familys but we all have opinions dont we ?
I think the best thing to do is talk to the manager and voice your comments to him and not on here
Come on be a man and tell him what you think ..... I DONT THINK SO THOUGH DO YOU
Here we go again !!!!!
Could it be fans .. players..or family ?
my money is on players familys but we all have opinions dont we ?
I think the best thing to do is talk to the manager and voice your comments to him and not on here
Come on be a man and tell him what you think ..... I DONT THINK SO THOUGH DO YOU
Posted by: dan, tilbury on 4:39pm Mon 7 Jan 08
god how childish is all this, if people cant say something constructive why bother at all. Its bad enough gazette reporter being negative about the team all the time, mind you hes not always accurate in his reports with names of players etc so not so sure what he knows either. Be supportive not vindictive!!!
god how childish is all this, if people cant say something constructive why bother at all. Its bad enough gazette reporter being negative about the team all the time, mind you hes not always accurate in his reports with names of players etc so not so sure what he knows either. Be supportive not vindictive!!!
Posted by: chaqs, east essex on 7:28pm Mon 7 Jan 08
Well said dan
The gazette reporter was once on the coaching staff at tilbury and took them down so maybe he wants to come back thats why he is so negitive....also did you know the ex tilbury manager would not talk to the sid reporter because of his views
If your a player dan keep it up you wont go down
Well said dan
The gazette reporter was once on the coaching staff at tilbury and took them down so maybe he wants to come back thats why he is so negitive....also did you know the ex tilbury manager would not talk to the sid reporter because of his views
If your a player dan keep it up you wont go down
Posted by: chaqs, east essex on 7:30pm Mon 7 Jan 08
[quote][bold]chaqs[/bold] wrote:
Well said dan The gazette reporter was once on the coaching staff at tilbury and took them down so maybe he wants to come back thats why he is so negitive....also did you know the ex tilbury manager would not talk to the sid reporter because of his views If your a player dan keep it up you wont go down[/quote] I also ment to say the ex manager was tony cross
chaqs wrote:
Well said dan The gazette reporter was once on the coaching staff at tilbury and took them down so maybe he wants to come back thats why he is so negitive....also did you know the ex tilbury manager would not talk to the sid reporter because of his views If your a player dan keep it up you wont go down
I also ment to say the ex manager was tony cross
Posted by: dan, tilbury on 9:22pm Mon 7 Jan 08
[quote][bold]chaqs[/bold] wrote:
Well said dan The gazette reporter was once on the coaching staff at tilbury and took them down so maybe he wants to come back thats why he is so negitive....also did you know the ex tilbury manager would not talk to the sid reporter because of his views If your a player dan keep it up you wont go down[/quote] no I didnt no that mate, that would account for a lot.Just notice he cant be bothered getting facts right in his reports, I know its a game of opinions but the comment he makes about the foul on Andre 'making booking on tilburys say so' etc what c--p, anothe r,King and Phillips jump in wall correct me if Im wrong but dont think King was in the wall. thanks for info chaqs
chaqs wrote:
Well said dan The gazette reporter was once on the coaching staff at tilbury and took them down so maybe he wants to come back thats why he is so negitive....also did you know the ex tilbury manager would not talk to the sid reporter because of his views If your a player dan keep it up you wont go down
no I didnt no that mate, that would account for a lot.Just notice he cant be bothered getting facts right in his reports, I know its a game of opinions but the comment he makes about the foul on Andre 'making booking on tilburys say so' etc what c--p, anothe r,King and Phillips jump in wall correct me if Im wrong but dont think King was in the wall. thanks for info chaqs
Posted by: chaqs, east essex on 1:52pm Tue 8 Jan 08
[quote][bold]dan[/bold] wrote:
[quote][bold]chaqs[/bold] wrote: Well said dan The gazette reporter was once on the coaching staff at tilbury and took them down so maybe he wants to come back thats why he is so negitive....also did you know the ex tilbury manager would not talk to the sid reporter because of his views If your a player dan keep it up you wont go down[/quote] no I didnt no that mate, that would account for a lot.Just notice he cant be bothered getting facts right in his reports, I know its a game of opinions but the comment he makes about the foul on Andre 'making booking on tilburys say so' etc what c--p, anothe r,King and Phillips jump in wall correct me if Im wrong but dont think King was in the wall. thanks for info chaqs[/quote] Yes dan he was joint manager with kimble in 2005 went we went down and his tactics were like is reorting mate !!!!!!
I was in the dressing room the day we went down and he stormed out if his dummy would have hit someone when he spat it out it would have took there heads off lol... we were a poor side that season and i have seen you play a couple of times this year and i will say all you need is a couple of players to make you a decent side
alan hanson once said your win nothing with kids and he was wrong but i do think you need a couple of old heads in there to get you up and runing again
I know chris stowe is not far away from playing and he is a good striker who will score goals in this league and above
so dan just hang in there and keep doing your best its a long hard season but your be ok...take no notice of neal he talks a good game but could never put it over to his players and deep down he likes to stick the knife in
dan wrote:
chaqs wrote: Well said dan The gazette reporter was once on the coaching staff at tilbury and took them down so maybe he wants to come back thats why he is so negitive....also did you know the ex tilbury manager would not talk to the sid reporter because of his views If your a player dan keep it up you wont go down
no I didnt no that mate, that would account for a lot.Just notice he cant be bothered getting facts right in his reports, I know its a game of opinions but the comment he makes about the foul on Andre 'making booking on tilburys say so' etc what c--p, anothe r,King and Phillips jump in wall correct me if Im wrong but dont think King was in the wall. thanks for info chaqs
Yes dan he was joint manager with kimble in 2005 went we went down and his tactics were like is reorting mate !!!!!!
I was in the dressing room the day we went down and he stormed out if his dummy would have hit someone when he spat it out it would have took there heads off lol... we were a poor side that season and i have seen you play a couple of times this year and i will say all you need is a couple of players to make you a decent side
alan hanson once said your win nothing with kids and he was wrong but i do think you need a couple of old heads in there to get you up and runing again
I know chris stowe is not far away from playing and he is a good striker who will score goals in this league and above
so dan just hang in there and keep doing your best its a long hard season but your be ok...take no notice of neal he talks a good game but could never put it over to his players and deep down he likes to stick the knife in
Posted by: Neil Speight, Grays on 4:28pm Tue 8 Jan 08
Rule one applies and if you dish it out then you've got to be man enough to take it, so keep directing the flack at me if you wish.
However, as I have only covered seven out of 28 Tilbury matches this season it doesn't really make sense to say that all I do is slag the team. Indeed, I've just reviewed my reports from games like the Sudbury and Bury home performances when I thought I had praised the team. Still, it's all about opinions and it’s each to his own.
Regarding my brief tenure as manager, having taken over when the expected incumbent gave back-word and with the team 11 points adrift at the foot of the table - not to mention a slashed budget and players who had walked out in support of the sacked manager, we didn't do too bad a job even if we fell short in the end.
I say ‘we’ as the coaching team included Garry Kimble and Paul Cobb, two people with a wealth of Football League experience who did their very best to keep Tilbury up. My own football expertise fell short of the mark, I've never denied that, but trust me it wasn't for the lack of trying. My role wasn’t so much as coach, that was Kimbs and later Cobby, but to put everything in place for the players and then try to give an objective analysis, both before, during and after games.
And as for the flying dummy, well if I didn't have a passion for the job and the club, I wouldn't have been a manager worthy of the honour of taking charge at a great club like Tilbury.
It's funny but when I go to Thurrock, East Thurrock or Aveley, I always get stick (admittedly good natured) for being too much a Tilbury supporter and always bigging them up. Even Mick Woodward at Grays called me Tilbury's biggest supporter at a public meeting. Funny how opinions vary.
Anyway, please feel free to vent anger at me and the Gazette, my shoulders are broad enough. But please, if any of you who write on this message board are players, please show an equal determination on the pitch and the same sort of passion towards uniting teammates and supporting John Lawrence.
He's a good man doing a near impossible task and he deserves support and backing from the players he has put his trust in – not anonymously backbiting about each other on a website.
Yes, maybe he sometimes gets team selection wrong, it's not that easy when you have to do it lads (and Dads!). Maybe your time will come one day. But he's a man who wears his heart on his sleeve and he deserves to keep the team up, and hopefully those of us behind the scenes (yes that includes me) will try and get him the financial support he deserves next season.
PS, speaking of financial support, I put about 3K of my own money into trying to keep Tilbury up when Joyno departed. That did entitle me to spit that dummy when one or two tossed it off, picked up their cash and tracksuits (which I had provided) and turned their backs on the club and those teammates who were giving their all. (Perhaps one of those was you Chaqs. You obviously are a gutless wonder using a pseudonym and a false email address. When it comes to standing up and being counted, we can count on you to be the man can't we?).
[bold]Neil Speight[/bold]
Rule one applies and if you dish it out then you've got to be man enough to take it, so keep directing the flack at me if you wish.
However, as I have only covered seven out of 28 Tilbury matches this season it doesn't really make sense to say that all I do is slag the team. Indeed, I've just reviewed my reports from games like the Sudbury and Bury home performances when I thought I had praised the team. Still, it's all about opinions and it’s each to his own.
Regarding my brief tenure as manager, having taken over when the expected incumbent gave back-word and with the team 11 points adrift at the foot of the table - not to mention a slashed budget and players who had walked out in support of the sacked manager, we didn't do too bad a job even if we fell short in the end.
I say ‘we’ as the coaching team included Garry Kimble and Paul Cobb, two people with a wealth of Football League experience who did their very best to keep Tilbury up. My own football expertise fell short of the mark, I've never denied that, but trust me it wasn't for the lack of trying. My role wasn’t so much as coach, that was Kimbs and later Cobby, but to put everything in place for the players and then try to give an objective analysis, both before, during and after games.
And as for the flying dummy, well if I didn't have a passion for the job and the club, I wouldn't have been a manager worthy of the honour of taking charge at a great club like Tilbury.
It's funny but when I go to Thurrock, East Thurrock or Aveley, I always get stick (admittedly good natured) for being too much a Tilbury supporter and always bigging them up. Even Mick Woodward at Grays called me Tilbury's biggest supporter at a public meeting. Funny how opinions vary.
Anyway, please feel free to vent anger at me and the Gazette, my shoulders are broad enough. But please, if any of you who write on this message board are players, please show an equal determination on the pitch and the same sort of passion towards uniting teammates and supporting John Lawrence.
He's a good man doing a near impossible task and he deserves support and backing from the players he has put his trust in – not anonymously backbiting about each other on a website.
Yes, maybe he sometimes gets team selection wrong, it's not that easy when you have to do it lads (and Dads!). Maybe your time will come one day. But he's a man who wears his heart on his sleeve and he deserves to keep the team up, and hopefully those of us behind the scenes (yes that includes me) will try and get him the financial support he deserves next season.
PS, speaking of financial support, I put about 3K of my own money into trying to keep Tilbury up when Joyno departed. That did entitle me to spit that dummy when one or two tossed it off, picked up their cash and tracksuits (which I had provided) and turned their backs on the club and those teammates who were giving their all. (Perhaps one of those was you Chaqs. You obviously are a gutless wonder using a pseudonym and a false email address. When it comes to standing up and being counted, we can count on you to be the man can't we?).
Neil Speight Posted by: happy me, grays on 5:07pm Tue 8 Jan 08
John should be sacked cant tell the last time Tilbury hav won a game
John should be sacked cant tell the last time Tilbury hav won a game
Posted by: tilbury.supporter, tilbury on 2:00pm Fri 11 Jan 08
Just one question Neil. All the matches that have your name against as the reporter, were you at the games watching the match, or has someone else provided information for you to write the report?
Just one question Neil. All the matches that have your name against as the reporter, were you at the games watching the match, or has someone else provided information for you to write the report?
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