Stansted 0 Tilbury 0
An heroic defensive effort from ten man hosts Stansted saw them earn a replay after a goal less draw with Ryman North Tilbury at the Woodside Park this afternoon.

Their was an early effort from Tilbury which went just wide from the edge of the box before there was a scare at the other end for Dockers which passed without too much damage. Tilbury then went close as a shot on the edge of the box was helped on but into the arms of keeper Payne.

Then the best chance so far fell to the visitors when they found space to the right of the box before they forced a double save from Payne then when the ball was returned into the box the resulting header was deflected wide. From the corner an attacking header went wide before the visitors attacked again which saw a low shot from the edge of the box go straight at Paine. It had been all Dockers so far in this contest.

Another Tilbury effort deflected just past the Stansted far post before another attack saw a
header land on to the roof of the net from a corner, this after Stansted nearly conceded from a quickly taken free kick. For all of Tilbury's dominance it was the hosts who so nearly took the lead as Bogard raced out of the Tilbury goal and missed his kick but Stansted were just put off by defenders meaning the chance had gone. It was a wake up call for the visitors though.

Then the visitors went oh so close as a ball squared into the Stansted box found the unmarked Aiken who somehow slammed the effort wide. It really should have been the opening goal but instead the sides went in level at the break. The Dockers had several decent chances but had failed to take any of them although Stansted were holding firm.

Half Time Stansted 0 Tilbury 0

The decent crowd of 189 at Bishop's Stortford's Woodside Park would have been hoping for goals in the second half and after a few nervy moments early in the second half for Stansted they had a rare chance from a free kick although this was headed straight at Tilbury keeper Bogard. Then a free kick for Tilbury right on the corner of the Stansted box was hit high and wide, a total waste of a decent position in all aspects.

The hosts went close when a corner was almost met by an unmarked player in the box but he missed his kick and eventually saw a volley go straight at Bogard. The hosts went even closer soon afterwards when a wonderful cross from the right saw the attacker just failing to get his head on the cross which was a relief for Tilbury. Then Stansted were reduced to ten men for an off the ball incident meaning the hosts would have to play the remainder of the match with a player short.

Tilbury fancied their chances even more now and only brave defending from Stansted in their own box thwarted the visitors although Tilbury's penalty appeal was waved away and then the hosts tried to counter attack by finding a bit of space down the left but a tame shot went well wide although Tilbury still seemed the more likely to score.

Another great defensive block from Stansted in the box denied an increasingly frustrated Tilbury side and then a deep cross from the visitors fell to Martin on the corner of the Stansted box but he could only fire over the target. Then came a moment of panic in the Stansted defence as Paine flapped at a Tilbury cross but escaped unpunished and then Richmond headed just wide as the visitors just could not find a way through.

A fine tackle denied a shock Stansted goal in the Tilbury box as the hosts tried to nick the tie as the game went into added time before another superb block in the Stansted box after it looked like Tilbury would finally score denied the visitors yet again as time was almost up at Woodside Park. There was one final chance for the visitors when a header went wide and Stansted had earnt a replay at Chadfields on Tuesday night. An heroic defensive effort from Stansted then whilst the Dockers lacked that cutting edge.

Full Time Stansted 0 Tilbury 0