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Tilbury 3, Waltham Abbey 4

TILBURY picked the wrong time to turn in one of their worst performances of the season and have lost control of their own destiny, with relegation from the Ryman Division One North staring them firmly in the face.

The fact that Tilbury scored three goals shows how poor Abbey were, but they still managed to net four themselves against a lacklustre, shapeless, ill-disciplined Dockers for whom only captain Paul King and striker Kurt Smith can really take any credit.

Keeper Richard Wray also did his best, but he was playing behind a rabble of a team who lacked passion and commitment at the time when they needed those qualities the most.

With relegation rivals Wivenhoe and Ilford winning, and Potters Bar picking up a creditable point against leaders Dartford, things look bleak for Dockers who could drop into the relegation zone should Wivenhoe triumph at Potters Bar on Tuesday.

With away trips to Dartford and Arlesey left, plus Ilford to visit Chadfields, Tilbury have a tough run in and somehow manager John Lawrence will have to rekindle the enthusiasm and fight so sadly missing on Saturday.

Yet things had started so well for Dockers who took the lead thanks to Smith's 18th league goal of the season after just five minutes when Jamie Gray nodded Nathan Philip's long ball into his path and he volleyed it first time past keeper John Hickman.

At that point Tilbury looked likely to kick on and dominate, but instead - as the minutes ticked away - they faltered and the visitors grabbed an equaliser when Chris Brown, who gave a wretched performance throughout, rifled an attempted 22nd minute clearance into his own net.

Abbey might have grabbed the lead but for Brad Smart's block on John Sapsford's 32nd minute strike but the inevitable happened three minutes before the break when shocking defending allowed a shot from Marc Sontag to ricochet around the box before Sapsford drilled it home.

Once again Dockers made a good start to the second half and were rewarded when Smith broke clear on 50 minutes. He is never at his most convincing when in a one-on-one and true to form Hickman foiled his first attempt but the ball bounced kindly for the front-running Docker and he was able to gather and round the keeper at the second attempt for an equaliser.

Optimists thought that would be the signal for Dockers to go on and prosper but their attitude was never convincing and more shoddy defending allowed James Elmes enough time to pick his spot and fire Abbey into the lad again just three minutes later.

In fairness to Tilbury's backline, the problem wasn't entirely of their own making. They made mistakes but the five man midfield of Nathan Philip, who was as bad today as he was good last week against Wivenhoe, Luke Stanley, Gray, Brown and Hugh Ashman producing a shocking display.

Ashman, on his return to the Tilbury ranks, might have been supposed to be a striker rather than a midfielder, but it was unclear and he wandered around the pitch like a man wondering why he had returned to Chadfields - a view probably shared by the home supporters.

Amid the mediocrity King's determination was outstanding and he looked the one player who really cared.

The awful Brown and nondescript Philip made way for Danny O'Connor and Jamie Shaw midway through the half but they made little difference and the game largely passed them both by, particularly when Abbey captain Lee White cut through the Dockers ranks on the 65th minute and lashed the ball into the roof of the net for his side's fourth.

Chris Stowe then came on in place of Stanley as Dockers boss John Lawrence tried to reinforce his attack but Stowe is a player at the wrong end of his career, overweight and lacking his once sharp cutting edge and he brought nothing to the party.

It was only King who was firing and he thoroughly deserved the goal that gave Dockers hope, astutely lobbing the ball past Hickman from 25 yards on 71 minutes but that was to be as good as it got for Dockers.

Ashman was lucky to stay on the pitch for a flying two-footed challenge on Steve Sheehan in a misplaced attempt at aggression and then the match was encapsulated in one incident when King picked the ball up on the edge of his own box and dribbled and forced his way through the centre. He travelled fully 50 yards, his weary legs clearly weakening with every pace forward but rather then help him, his team-mates ran away, offering him no viable options. In the end he ran into a blind alley and lost possession .

His frustration was clear but he at least could hold his head up at the end of a desperately disappointing afternoon.

With three games left Dockers will need results elsewhere to go kindly but that will be irrelevant if they perform as badly as this again.

Tilbury: Richard Wray, Danny Smith, Calum Dodkins, Bradley Smart, Paul King, Nathan Philip (Danny O'Connor 60), Chris Brown (Jamie Shaw 55), Jamie Gray, Kurt Smith, Hugh Ashman, Luke Stanley (Chris Stowe 66). Subs not used: Keith Wilson, Ajibola Olatunbosun.

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

Ryman One North, up to and inc Sat, April 5

8:59pm Saturday 5th April 2008

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