MATCH REPORT AWAY V AVELEY VIA MR ANTHONY MERCER.

Aveley 0 Tilbury 2 (Att 132)
Dockers Finish 2014 in Style


A defiant Tilbury side came away from Millfields with all 3 points to beat a stuttering Aveley side.

On a chilly evening, the home side were depleted due to injuries and suspensions and Tilbury also had the luxury of having captain Sam West and fellow centre half Joe Nightingill on the bench.

The Millers started the strong with Jack Stevenson finding Kyle Asante, but Jack Giddens denied the player. Ola then went close for the home side when he hit his left footed shot wide.

The Dockers came into the game as they forced the first corner of the game after good work by Tony Martin down the left hand side. The corner was cleared, but Tilbury came again and almost opened the scoring, when a near post header was saved by the diving James Marrable.

The opening twenty was a tight but end to end affair with both sides having chances. Millers were the next to have a chance, again it was Jack Stevenson with a superb ball through this time to Steve Carvell, but Jimmy Cook closed down well to deny a shot at goal. Tilbury again had a guilt edge chance from a corner as Elliott Johnson was allowed to have a free header, but it went over the bar. After pressure from the Dockers they took the lead on 24 when the excellent Emiel Aiken chipped the ball through to Tony Martin through on goal and he chipped James Marrable to perfection from the edge of the area in to the net.
Seconds later Bradley Webb was to the rescue when he denied Asante when his ball was going through to goal. Harry Cook was causing problems throughout the game and he got in behind twice in quick succession as Millers failed to retain the ball further up the pitch. Just before the break Tilbury deservedly doubled their lead when Tom Wood scored at Marrable's near post from a Aiken through ball.

After an exciting first half, the second did live up, as the game lacked goalmouth action.

Aveley did put some pressure on the well drilled Tilbury defence, but were denied by good defending. Midway through the half, Giddens was out to deny Asante a shot in on goal.

Substitute Elbi had two good chance to score but on both occasions hit over. In the final minutes Tilbury hit Aveley on the counter attack, but a misplaced pass on both attacks saw Tilbury unable to kill the game off.

After the game Manager Gary Henty said "We had a game plan and the lads stuck to it. I'm delighted with the performance and another clean sheet.