Tilbury 0, Wingate & Finchley 1

AS the black hole of relegation moves ever near, Tilbury were left shaking their heads and ruing what might have been after a much improved performance on Saturday.

The old saying goes that when you're down, you get nothing but bad luck and while Tilbury's management duo of Garry Kimble and Neil Speight have refused to accede to superstition and dogma, saying 'you make your own luck' it would have been hard to find anyone at Chadfields, Wingate and Finchley included, who would have said they didn't deserve at least a point from this match, and perhaps the balance of play meant they ought to have had three.

Even the one point might have proved vital as, with relegation rivals Erith and Great Wakering both going down to big defeats, a point would have put the gap to safety at eight points.

As it is, it remains at nine and with Tilbury's shocking goal difference that amounts to ten points, so the mountain facing Tilbury looks all the bigger after the weekend.

It might all have been so different had Tilbury taken one of three gilt-edged chances.

The first two fell in the space of a couple of first half minutes to Callan Ware who saw his far post header scrambled to safety by keeper Ed Thompson (though most of the people near the incident insist the keeper scooped the ball back from a foot behind the line) and then he saw Thomson pull off a remarkable save by somehow sitting on the ball after he had lashed a fierce volley from close range.

The third opportunity fell in the closing moments of the match to Bradley Walsh who was on hand in the six yard box after some great passing. However, leaving all home supporters' heads in their hands, he blazed high over bar when just a little composure might have saved a precious point for his side.

Those incidents aside, there was little serious goalmouth incident as the sides battled hard on a sticky pitch.

Both teams produced some neat, attractive football but the finishing touch or final pass was rarely there.

The exception came on 57 minutes when the experienced Sam Sloma, popped up at the edge of the box and produced a sublime back heel that not only took defenders away from the ball but opened the door for Dean Williams who stepped into the gap and drilled the ball across keeper Dave McCartney into the bottom corner.

It was a fine goal and deserved to win any match.

What was all the more galling for Tilbury was that it was one of the few occasions that McCartney had been threatened.

He had an anxious moment in the opening seconds when Sloma skipped around his marker down the left wing and sent a teasing ball right across the face of goal which beat the desperate dives of four onrushing attackers and late in the first half Theo Kissi came close with a drive from distance which floated inches over the bar.

For Tilbury Rio Alderton, who turned in a much-improved performance in midfield, produced a second-half thunderbolt that flashed inches wide, but they did lack a cutting edge - the problem that has dogged them all season.

With just ten games left their position looks hopeless but at least if they can repeat the spirit shown on Saturday they will end the season with a measure of pride that has, at times this season, looked a quality sadly missing.