Concord Rangers 3 Tilbury 1 JUST when it seemed things couldn't get much worse for Southern League Division One East rock bottom club Tilbury, they managed to conjure up another depressing performance on Tuesday and suffered a second scalping at the hands of Rangers in the Eastern Floodlight League.

A fortnight ago the Essex Senior League side produced an upset to beat Dockers 2-1 in their own backyard and they clinched probable qualification to the knock-out stages of a cup they hold with this win thanks to first half goals from Neil Richmond, Shaun Hall and Jamie Clarke.

It is the latest blow for Tilbury, whose manager Paul Joynes' future is now the subject of much conjecture.

He faces a very difficult away trip to Barking on Saturday in the league and while he may be forgiven defeat against the division's surprise package, next Wednesday's Thameside Trophy clash at another Essex League side, Bowers and Pitsea, could prove the final straw if he can't conjure up a very convincing victory.

On Tuesday Tilbury started brightly and had an early chance through Marvin Neufville, but Rangers stamped their authority on the game in the 13th minute when visiting keeper Mark Baker fumbled a cross and Richmond was on hand to slot in the opener from close range. Baker might well have been fouled in the act of dropping the ball but he had more than enough time to make the catch his after venturing well off his line.

Hall doubled the advantage with a 'route one goal' six minutes later, latching onto keeper Dale Brightly's big clearance and slamming the ball past a leaden-footed Baker and a floundering back-line.

Tilbury's defenders have had some escape from criticism as the goals have been rattling in throughout the season, but even though the Tilbury forward line of Neufville and Jason Hanif showed absolutely no capability to hold the ball and ease the pressure at any stage of Tuesday's match, and the midfield constantly gave possession away, no defenders can be excused for standing and letting a big boot catch them square and flat-footed time and time again.

Though Tilbury were to perform much better in the second period, victory was assured for Rangers on 28 minutes when a swift counter attack down the left brought a sharp diving save from Baker but the keeper's luck was well and truly out as Clarke was on hand to slam the ball into the rood of the net from an acute angle.

Tilbury's hopes were briefly raised ten minutes into the second half when Jason Hanif was brought down in the box and Gary Howard stepped up to convert the Dockers' first penalty of the season but though they had the majority of the pressure from then on, Rangers' defence was firm and they emerged thoroughly deserving winners.

Tempers flared briefly in the closing minutes of the match when one or two Tilbury players finally looked up for a fight. Danny Cross even ran 50 yards to get involved in a goalmouth melee.

It's a pity he and some of his colleagues didn't channel the same aggression in pursuit of trying to outplay their opposition.