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Enfield Town 1, Tilbury 2

A GOAL from Bradley Smart deep into added time gave battling Tilbury a precious, if improbable, Ryman Division One North victory against high-flying Town.

Dockers' recent improvement, based on a more experienced midfield and a two-pronged attack continued and the win was all the more vital as relegation rivals Wivenhoe also pulled off a victory. The two meet on Tuesday.

Manager John Lawrence added to his recent signings by drafting in former Great Wakering man Chris Brown, who has recently been plying his trade with Essex Senior League Hullbridge, to play on he left side of midfield. However, leaving Tilbury is defender Gbenga Sonuga who has been released.

The first half of Saturday's encounter was a very cagey affair, with few chances.

Town didn't mount a real threat until five minutes before half time when young midfielder Max Mitchell put a great ball through for captain Bryan Hammatt. He was one-on-one with Dockers' Richard Wray and though the keeper slipped, he was still able to stretch out an arm and push Hammatt's shot wide.

The closest Tilbury came was in the half's closing moments when the striking partnership of Kurt Smith and Chris Stowe prised open a chance but Charlie Hasler pulled off a save.

The second half was played out at a totally different tempo, almost like a cup tie.

And the commitment picked up a pace too, with a number of feisty challenges and incidents, one of which ended with Dockers skipper Paul King's tenth booking of the season. He will now miss the matches at Great Wakering on Saturday, March 1 and the following Tuesday's trip to Waltham Abbey when Dockers will hopefully complete a fixture abandoned amid scenes of violence earlier in the season.

Dockers were taking the game to their hosts and on 51 minutes they opened the scoring when Stowe beat two defenders and was brought down by last ditch tackle from Greg Heald. Jamie Gray expertly lifted the free kick over the wall into the corner, with Hasler flat-footed. keeper didn't move.

On 63 minutes Tilbury caught Town on the break and Hasler brought Stowe down outside the box but surprisingly escaped even a caution.

Enfield might have equalised when sub Paul Campbell was put through by Ricci Crace but Wary, who had an outstanding game, saved again.

However, on 69 minutes a corner was only half cleared edge of area and Wray was finally beaten by Crace's shot.

Town pushed forward with great determination for a winner but Tilbury's rearguard was in fine form and Lawrence went for broke by throwing on James Dwyer to give them three attackers to think about.

Dwyer almost made his mark when put through by another sub, Nathan Philip but though his shot beat Hasler it drifted wide.

In the opening minutes of added time Smith had a great chance to win the game when through with only Haslet to beat but his clipped shot drifted wide.

That looked like the last chance but on 96 minutes Tilbury flooded forward in numbers for a final try. Philip lofted a ball into the box and Smart challenged Hasler who dropped the ball and the impressive Smart had the presence of mind to knock it into the net and spark tremendous celebrations from a number of travelling Dockers fans.

Tilbury: Richard Wray, Jonathan Wightman, Jay Taylor, Bradley Smart, Paul King, Martyn Guest, Chris Brown (James Dwyer 60), Jamie Gray, Kurt Smith, Chris Stowe (Nathan Philip 83), Andre Humphrey (Sam Groombridge 70). Subs not used: Paul Agu and Danny O'Connor.

Ryman Division One North, up to and inc Sat, Feb 16

7:56pm Saturday 16th February 2008

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