Isthmian North

BASILDON UNITED 2 TILBURY 3

JOHN CHUBB at The Hive 

@JohnCphoenixfm

Tilbury – having returned to the Isthmian North at the first attempt following relegation to the Essex Senior League the season before – have been something of a revelation on their return to non-League step four.

And last night at Gardiners Close, a stunning second half comeback saw them claim victory over a Basildon United side who have so far had a good league campaign themselves, in front of the home club’s biggest crowd so far this season.

Basildon manager Chris Taylor gave a debut to goalkeeper Max Spence, newly signed from Essex Senior League Barking.

It took just over 90 seconds for the home side to break the deadlock, as forward Ramiah Mills smashed the ball into the top left hand corner to give his side an early lead.

The remainder of the first half hour was a competitive and physical contest, but largely devoid of genuine goalscoring opportunities.

But with 34 minutes on the clock, the Dockers almost levelled.

A clever ball from Alfie Fry evaded the United defence and found Dan Trendall, who fired in what looked like it would be a certain equaliser but new boy Spence did superbly to tip his effort onto the crossbar.

But although the away team were applying the most pressure during this phase of the match, it was the Bees – against the run of play – who found the net once again in first half injury time.

A perfectly placed Mills cross found Darren Esuka, whose looping header sailed over Hughes and double his side’s lead going into the break.

It took until the midway point of the second half before there was a further goal, and it provided Tilbury with a lifeline as during the 69th minute, Dockers forward Alex Hernandez glanced the ball home past Spence to reduce the home side’s lead to 2-1.

And five minutes later the league leaders’ persistence paid off when substitute Lindell Stewart -who had replaced Macauley Joynes less than 15 minutes previously – nodded in an equaliser.

And the comeback was complete in the 84th minute when a goalmouth scramble eventually saw Stewart once again find the net, and Tilbury were now 3-2 ahead.

The visitors held on to claim all three points and extend their lead to four points, so will remain top whatever the outcome of today’s (Saturday’s) fixtures, whilst Basildon remained fourth, but the Bees could be overtaken by Felixstowe & Walton United and/or Waltham Abbey – the sides just below them – depending on today’s results.

BASILDON UNITED (Manager: Chris Taylor): Max Spence, Ryan Sammons (Billy Willis 62), Joshua Taylor, Lorenzo Saponara (Alfie Osborne 75), Lye Jude (C), Luke Edgar, Sam Brogan (Troy Osei-Bobie 87), Ryan Richefond, Ramiah Mills, Ruben Bartlett-Antwi (Nidal Berri 75), Darren Esuka.

TILBURY (Manager: Marc Harrison): David Hughes, Alfie Fry, Macauley Joynes (Lindell Stewart 61), Sam Carter (Kieran Jones 61), Lewis Clark,  Jack McQueen, Sam Bantick (Cameron Brodie 85), Oliver Spooner (C), Alex Hernandez, Jamie Reynolds, Daniel Trendall.

Referee: Ross Murphy

Attendance: 279