Brightlingsea came into this tough away fixture on the back of a disppointing exit from the FA Trophy away at Harlow Town four days earlier. Despite heroic efforts it would be the Hawks from Harlow that would be travelling down to Havant and Waterlooville in the FA Trophy whilst James Webster's men would again return to league action making the shorter trip to South Essex and Chadfields home of The Dockers.

Brightlingsea were looking to continue their fine league form and to consolidate second place in the league table. Tilbury is always a hard place to go and James Webster would be without two of his established back four. Jake and Josh Gould ruled out by injury with Warren Joseph and Russell Malton being drafted in to the back four. Robbie Rees started again due to Tom Richardson still being out
and young Harry Macdonald got another first team start. This turned out to be a very entertaining game with both sides looking for a victory and taking the game to each other.

Brightlingsea started a little slower than usual struggling to find their usual tempo perhaps a hangover from the efforts of tuesday night. Tilbury were certainly causing a few problems for the visitors and forcing a fair amount of corners and set pieces.Without Josh Gould in the Regent back four it was fortunate that Tilbury are not the biggest side and despite the amount of set pieces they were not able
to cause many problems. Matt Cripps and the returning Ollie Bowles in goal dealing with the threat.

Brightlingsea needed to start holding the ball better in the final third and start threatening the Tilbury goal. Phil Kelly made a couple of mazy runs at the Tilbury back four but couldn't offer a shot being fouled just as he was about to shape to shoot. The resulting free kick came to nothing but the visitors seemed to have sparked into life. Young Harry McDonald started to get more involved running hard at the heart of the Tilbury defence. This period of Regent pressure saw the visitors take the lead. The lively Robbie Rees broke into the Tilbury penalty area. As he shaped to shoot and the challenges from the Tilbury defenders flew in he remained the most composed person in the ground when he paused executed a Cruyff turn sending the Tilbury players the other way and fired into the net from close range.1-0 Brightlingsea Regent.

Tilbury were by no means out of this game and they continued to cause Brightlingsea problems when they broke.This pressure paid
off on 33 minutes when Lewis Jaggs whipped a cross in towards the Regent goal and Joe Nightinfill rifled his header home.1-1.

Many of the supporters were still heading for their places when what turned out to be the winning goals was scored. Russell Malton made his way forward from his right back position and picked up the ball just inside the Tilbury half. He unleashed an unstoppable shot past Lee Butcher in the home goal which sent the away fans crazy and led to the home supporters acknowledging a truly fantastic goal and one worthy to win any game.It was probably always going to be a moment of individual class or an error that would separate these two evenly matched teams and thankfully it was the former.

Brightlingsea left Chadfields firmly cemented in second place and this performance will no doubt satisfy Webster and his team given the notable regulars that were absent.It certainly shows the togetherness that exists at North Road and the strength in depth that is beginning to evolve.