The long-awaited East Anglian Cup final - which was not settled last season - finally went to the Dockers on Thursday night as they produced a nerve-shredding come-from-behind performance to make it a memorable night at Chadfields.
Tilbury defeated Ridgeons eastern Counties League Division One outfit, Halstead Town, 3-2. But it was Halstead who went ahead in the closing minutes of the first half when the ever-threatening Ally O'Leary chipped over Tilbury's guardian to give the visitors the advantage.
Hard battling Dockers had to wait until the 76th minute to redress the balance when a corner kick from the boot of Steve Parmenter curled into the goal to the shock of the flat-footed visiting defence.
By the end of ordinary time the pair were still locked together at 1-1, but then Dockers gifted Town a goal when confusipon reigned and Chris Taylor accidentally clipped the ball into his own net.
As the second period of extra time ticked away Dockers sub Chris Stowe became the toast of Chadfields as he used his head to find the net from a well worked free kick.
But the final deciding goal came with just four minutes still to play when former Southend United and Fleet playmaker Lee Hodges found the net.
He had been located by an inch perfect ball from Glen Golby. Hodges brought the ball under control and thumped it in from the edge of the box as the Chadfields faithful - who had been on an emotional roller-coaster all evening - dared to begin their celebrations.
And when the final whistle went the delight of the Tilbury players and hard-working management team was evident from the celebrations on the pitch.
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