Bleak days at Chadfields

TILBURY's management team confessed they were totally baffled after Saturday's seven goal drubbing, the worst home result in the Dockers' 105 year old history.

The defeat came just five days after East Thurrock knocked four without reply past the Southern League Division One East's botom club, who now have little hope of avoiding the drop.

Joint manager Neil Speight admitted he and fellow manager Garry Kimble were perplexed by the sudden slump after four games without defeat that had ignited the possibility of survival.

"Admittedly Maldon and East Thurrock are excellent sides and are both driving for promotion, but we still should have shown more in both matches. Defeat, while never totally acceptable, can be palatable if the performance is decent, but few of our players can hold their heads up after the last two efforts.

"On Saturday we went in at half time three goals down having had more of the ball but without ever looking like scoring. The possesion we had enjoyed gave us a glimmer of hope for the second half but we just imploded. Most of the players, with the obvious exception of keeper Dave McCartney who single-handedly stopped it from going into double figures, just didn't live up to their own ability and potential. Mark Robson can be excused too, he kept his head up and tried to play some decent football and it's hard not to feel a bit of sympathy for the strikers who don't get much to fee off. However overall we were left gutted by the fact that as a team we played so much below the level we are capable of. If I was summing it up it would be that we didn't show any character.

"Since Garry and I took over at Christmas we had taken pride in the fact that in all the matches but the last two, with the exception of our trip to Wivenhoe, we were with a shout right to the last kick of the game. We were showing spirit and morale in the dressing room was good but suddenly in two matches, everything has gone pear-shaped.

"Maybe the fact that we were playing decent sides frightened the lads. Perhaps they lack bottle. I'm not sure.

"However the buck stops with Garry and myself. Maybe we've tinkered with the team too much, looking to improve and change things when it wasn't necessary. Certainly we must be guilty of not getting them motivated for the tougher games. What can't speak can't lie and those two results show how much there is still to do."

The task facing Tilbury doesn't get any easier over the next two weekends, with promotion chasing Barton Rovers the visitors to Chadfields on Saturday and Dockers facing a trip to high-flying Uxbridge the week after.

On Saturday Dockers included former Charlton and West Ham star Robson in their line-up, and also gave a first start to Shamrez Darr.

For the first ten minutes things looked bright for the home side as they pegged Maldon back for most of the opening exhanges, winning a number of corners and free kicks around the visitors' penalty area.

However, with virtually their first attack of the match, Maldon opened the scoring when Rugg was given time and space to lob the ball over McCartney from an angled position.

Tilbury kept their heads up and went in search of an equaliser before being caught out again eight minutes later when defender Keith Wilson was clearly fouled on the left but the unsighted referee waved play on, giving Maldon the chance to get the ball in the box. Tilbury had chances to clear the danger but dithered and Parker snatched the opportunity to smash the ball into the roof of the net.

Disheartened, but not yet beaten, Tilbury pressed forward but though they won more corners and free kicks, never created real opportunities to score and they paid dearly for their weakness up front when Rugg grabbed Maldon's third three minutes from the break.

If Tilbury had hopes of coming back in the second half they were quickly extinguished when Parker's 48th minute flick was cleared by Wilson, only for the linesman to rule the ball had crossed the line.

Tilbury were incensed with a perceived injustice but anger turned quickly to despair as Maldon, through the impressive Parker and Rugg rattled in three more goals in the next eight minutes.

Maldon looked odds on to go and get double figures but McCartney produced a virtual one-man show to keep them at bay.

The visitors, having chalked up a tenth successive win, will be very optimistic they can secure a play-off place and may yet challenge for the second automatic promotion spot. Tilbury's challenge, on the other hand, is to revive some sort of team spirit and optimism from the bleakest of situations.