Great Wakering Rovers 2, Tilbury 1

FOR the second year running Tilbury have gone out of both FA competitions at the first time of asking, an expensive habit given the prize money on offer in the FA Cup and Trophy. Rovers though, having knocked Tilbury out of the Cup earlier this season, will be more than happy after repeated the does in Saturday's FA Trophy clash.

While Rovers were convincing winners at Chadfields in the first meeting of these two sides from the Ryman Division One North this was a much closer affair and Tilbury can justifiably consider themselves a little unlucky, particularly as they ended the match with ten men through a run of injuries.

Having said that, Wakering made much the brighter start and they went in front after nine minutes when Elliot Gresham put a speculative cross into the box. The ball looped off Dockers' Sam Holloway and Neil Richmond produced a spectacular opener, volleying the ball from the edge of the box with a scissor-kick strike that crashed in of the crossbar.

The home side's early dominance faded after they lost Martin Tuohy after he picked up a knock and had to depart.

Dockers' first meaningful attack on 32 minutes produced their equaliser.

Kurt Smith, who was outstanding all day in the lone striker's role, beat Gresham and drilled in a cross from by-line. Wakering centre back Kevin Cole slipped and Andre Humphry nipped in between him and Nicky Beale to produce a bullet header from close range.

What was the prove the deciding goal of the match came early in the second half when Steve Butterworth was felled in the box by Humphry and he got up to convert the spot kick.

A series of injuries then hampered Dockers. Sam Holloway, Paul King and Danny O'Connor were all replaced in quick succession, O'Connor by Tilbury's new signing, Marc Clarey from Ilford.

However, to their credit Dockers didn't lie down and die and they pushed hard for an equaliser.

Erkan Yuseff made a run from half way line only to shoot into the arms of Louis Green and then Kurt Smith twisted past Beale and his left foot shot looked goal bound until Green produced a fine one-handed save.

Humphrey was the injured in a collision with Yuseff and carried off on stretcher. Even then the ten man Dockers didn't give up and came close to a 90th minute equaliser when Stuart Roberts' free kick just cleared the crossbar from 20 yards.

Tilbury: Paul Agu, Danny Smith, Sam Holloway (Lloyd Anthony), Nathan Phillips, Paul King (Steve Mensah), Erkan Yusef, Andre Humphrey, Stuart Roberts Danny O'Connor (Marc Clarey), Luke Stanley, Kurt Smith.