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FANS KITTED OUT: Tilbury supporters can now get their hands on official copies of the club's shirt, the first time this has happened for many years. They proved very popular at Saturday's home match against Edgware and the fans helped inspire the team to a creditable draw.

Tilbury 0, Edgware T 0

BATTLING Tilbury enjoyed a sunswept Chadfields on Saturday, fully deserving a share of the points as they pegged back promotion hopefuls Edgware with a performance of real character.

Their first half hero was goalkeeper Richard Wray who pulled off several fine saves, but such was the frustration endured by the visitors they didn't test the stopper in the second half.

Indeed at the end relegation-haunted Tilbury had a couple of good chances to win, most notably when skipper Paul King headed over but that would have been an injustice on Town.

Tilbury fielded a reshaped side with Martyn Guest and Jamie Gray in the centre of midfield and they added bite that has been missing of late. Guest also gave much needed support to the forward pairing of Kurt Smith and Chris Stowe and in the 15th minute forced a save from Rob Blackburn who could only parry the header, but no-one was on hand to pick up the lose ball.

In Greg Ngoyi and Kevin Chakadoza Edgware had the game's most dominant characters. Both could and perhaps should have scored in the first half when neat interplay, particularly from the flanks, carved open Tilbury on a number of occasions.

However, Wray produced several good stops, particularly two brilliant one-handed saves from Chakadoza.

On occasion he had to beret his defenders for a lack of alertness but generally Tilbury's play was up several notches from recent performances and in the closing stages of the half Stowe had a great chance to carve open an opportunity but with Kurt Smith and Bradley Smart outpacing him to give Dockers a two on three advantage he fluffed his pass.

The Edgware striking partnership's influence on the game waned in the second half as Tilbury defended their penalty area with even more resolve, with Smart turning in an outstanding man-of-the-match performance.

As the half wore on Edgware's frustration mounted and in the closing stages Tilbury had a couple of chances to take advantage, particular when James Dwyer came on for a tiring Stowe, whose only failing was a knack of drifting offside at vital moments. Dwyer added pace and variety to the attack and the issue was in the balance right until the end of several nerve-wracking added minutes.

The game was always keenly contested, so much so that Tilbury youngster Luke Stanley had to go to hospital for a nasty-looking facial injury just before half time, but for the most part it was played in the right spirit, with referee Ian Fissenden deserving credit for his officiating.

The point was undeniably welcome for Dockers but perhaps more important was the manner in which they achieved it. They are still a little shot-shy but they may get more opportunities against lesser sides than Edgware and certainly if judged by this performance they have what it takes to survive.

Dockers: Richard Wray, Danny Smith, Jay Taylor, Bradley Smart, Paul King, Martyn Guest, Erkan Yusef, Jamie Gray, Kurt Smith, Chris Stowe (James Dwyer), Luke Stanley (Andre Humphrey). Subs not used: Paul Agu, Nathan Philip, Sam Groombridge.

Ryman Division One North, up to and inc Sat, Feb 9

Other Ryman Division One North results: Friday: Wivenhoe 1, Bury 3. Saturday: AFC Sudbury 2, Dartford 2; Arlesey Town 0, Aveley 3; Brentwood T 4, Ilford 1; Enfield Town 1, Maldon Town 0; Great Wakering Rovers 5, Witham Town 0; Northwood 1, Waltham Abbey 1; Potters Bar 1, Wingate & Finchley 0; Redbridge 0, Canvey I 0; Waltham Forest 0, Ware 2.

8:19pm Saturday 9th February 2008

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