Draw disappoints

TILBURY'S first goalless draw of the season brought in a rare away point for the Dockers, but it is a measure of how much the team has improved over recent weeks that they left Kent reflecting on two Southern League Division One East points lost rather than one gained.

After the previous week's 1-1 draw with Boreham Wood, a result that has gained in credibility with subsequent Wood performances, and the midweek Thameside Trophy win at Bowers, Tilbury went into the match in confident mood.

And even the loss of defensive lynchpin Danny Cross with a hamstring injury in the pre-match warm-up didn't dampen the sense of anticipation.

Tilbury introduced new signing Jamie Martin in midfield but it was a move that backfired as the former Grays and Aveley man lacked match sharpness and was he found it difficult to get the pace of the game.

However he did almost make an immediate mark with a turn and shot in the opening five minutes that flashed across the face of the goal.

Hard-running Usif Bangura was asked to form a new partnership up front with Callan Ware and this too was something that didn't quite work as the visitors struggled to create any chances of note.

At the other end keeper Dave McCartney was asked to be sharp on his toes on several occasions as the Chatham forwards threatened with some speedy counter-attacks and the keeper wasn't helped by some indifferent defending at times. The match might have turned on an incident after Robbie Reinelt elbowed the industrious John Purches.

Bizarrely the referee, having given the foul, ordered Purches to leave the field and receive treatment for the blood streaming from his nose - and then order the Tilbury man to change his blood-splattered shirt - didn't even book the veteran Chatham player.

It was the first of a number of strange and inconsistent decisions by the man in black, who certainly ought to have booked Purches on his return to the pitch for a retaliatory challenge on Reinelt.

Chatham gradually began to take the assertive role, prompting Tilbury to replace Martin with Danny Vincent just before half time in a bid to add more mobility to the midfield.

After the break play ebbed and flowed with chances at both ends, though neither goalkeeper was severely tested.

Tilbury introduced Chima Eberendu, who was unlucky to be left out of the starting line-up, in an attempt to add more pep to their attack in the closing half hour and in the last minute he went close to nicking it for Tilbury with a turn and strike that went inches past the post.

Chatham also went close in the final moments but in the end a draw was probably a fair result, though Tilbury returned over the Thames knowing they had missed an opportunity.

They will certainly have to show more attacking prowess against Leighton on Saturday, and then face up to a tough-looking derby against East Thurrock United at Chadfields on Tuesday.