Battling draw for Dockers

A BATTLING performance by Tilbury in a match they could not afford to lose will give them some impetus for up and coming matches in their near-impossible fight against relegation.

The Dockers gave a debut to new signing, striker Usif Bangura and he formed a useful partnership up front with another recent Chadfields arrival, Chima Eberendu.

Managerless visitors Boreham Wood made the brighter start, at least in terms of chances, and Tilbury were glad to clear their lines after a number of early goalmouth scrambles, particularly after John Purches has kneed one ball away off the line.

However the Dockers gradually found their feet and began to threaten themselves. Bangura looks a useful addition and won several headers to set up attacking opportunities.

However clear cut chances were few and far between until Eberendu got on the end of a cross and headed across the face of goal only to see the ball bounce to safety of the upright.

But Tilbury were giving as good as they got by now against their higher-rated opposition and they eventually went ahead on 32 minutes.

Danny Spinks knocked the ball forward after a good defensive header by Marvin Neufville and though Eberendu had plenty to do, he held onto the ball, ran across the face of the goal and clipped it past the diving Noel ember to spark jubilation on the home terraces.

Boreham Wood had several chances to go in on level terms at half time, most notably a shot from Imber, who leaves his nets to take set piece strikes, but Tilbury bravely held out. It was the first time they had taken a lead into half time in the league this season.

Sadly it wasn't a lead they could hold onto.

Boreham Wood, lambasted in the dressing room by chairman Danny Hunter during the break, came out with all guns blazing and Tilbury made the mistake of taking a backward step.

Rarely were they able to assert themselves as an attacking force and found themselves fighting a real rearguard action.

However some magnificent defending, with players throwing bodies on the line and showing real courage, looked like it might just see Tilbury hold on.

However the decisive moment came thanks to referee David Margetts' intervention when he ruled Neufville had fouled in the box on 67 minutes. Home supporters were less than convinced about the decision and thought the visiting player had gone down too easily but keeper Imber made no mistake with the spot-kick, blasting it home.

To their credit, Tilbury didn't crack despite the disappointment and with the superb Danny Cross and Ray Taylor joining Neufville in winning battle honours as Boreham Wood laid siege, they held out for a draw and might even have nicked all the points in injury time when sub Callan Ware fired over from close range at the end of a speedy counter-attack.