Concord Rangers 0, Tilbury 1

Where would Tilbury be without Paul Cobb?

The striker struck his 17th goal of the season to lift Tilbury into fifth place in the Essex Senior League and once more his finishing prowess proved the difference between the sides.

In fairness, this wasn't entirely a one-man show for Tilbury, with new signing Danny Scopes producing an effective display at the heart of the visiting defence.

A stalwart of the Great Wakering Rovers side under current Tilbury boss Tony Cross, Scopes played briefly for Southend Manor this season but his switch to Chadfields could be a real boost for Dockers if he repeats this authoritive showing. Taking the captain's armband he showed leadership and produced a fine individual performance to ensure a clean sheet.

Not that Rangers proved that hard to shut out. They have only scored 11 times in the league this season and have turned to former Purfleet striker Martin Lawrence to lift them up front. Thanks to Scope and his teammates he didn't have many chances but did come closest to scoring for the home side.

That was in the closing moments of a first half in which Dockers were the better throughout, though they two were short of real chances.

They took the lead on 16 minutes when Lee Hattam cleared the ball upfield. Michael Shelly, another recent hard-working acquisition who is starting to gel well with Cobb, flicked it on to Cobb who produced a clinical finish past debutant Concord keeper James Tegger, who signed from Dartford on the morning of the match.

Dockers' only other significant chance in the half came on 35 minutes when Cobb flicked the ball into the path of Keith Wilson but the Tilbury man failed to control the high ball and Nathan Collins.

The second half was dominated by Concord, but their inability to create chances showed why they have only rarely troubled the statisticians.

Scopes marshalled the rearguard well enough to keep the pressure off keeper James Cook who was only tested in the closing stages when he dived to his left to push away a low, long range drive from Sammy Ing.

For a game that had been low key throughout there were some unseemly scenes at the close of play with players and management squaring up in the middle of the park, with manager Cross in the thick of it after being verbally provoked by a Concord player. Lots of pushing and shoving took place and threats were certainly issued, with acrimony spilling over as the players left the field and some supporters got involved but in the end nothing major transpired and Tilbury were able to leave Canvey with the spoils of victory and the satisfaction of a job done.