City on the up

Cambridge City and Tilbury locked horns on Saturday afternoon, with both clubs uncomfortably close to the relegation zone. Tilbury were coming into the match on the back of a 2 match win-less streak, which included a 1-1 draw with fellow strugglers Downham Town. The Essex side were playing their 2^nd of six consecutive away fixtures.

Photo:Iain Walker

The hosts were on the other side of the ladder, City going into the match on a three league match unbeaten run. Their last result was a morale boosting 2-1 away win against Waltham Abbey. The Abbotts dropping points at home for the first time in 6 matches.

The match began, and it was City who started the more aggressive of the two. An early throw allowed Jett Murphy to aim for Quevin Castro in the centre, the Tilbury defence stood firm. This came after an early caution for Murphy, who floored Jamie Reynolds.

The first corner came on 9 minutes, and so did the first meaningful shot. Usman Adeniji's cross was defended for the corner and Jack Thompson's cross was met by the gloves of Harry Fairs. Tilbury's defence did their best to clear the danger but the ball fell straight to Alfie Mason, the winger's strike was tipped round the post by Fairs from 20 yards out. The following corner was sent in by Thompson, and new signing Castro tried an audacious overhead kick which failed to find the target, albeit delighting the crowd.

After 15 minutes, Ali Njie saw the headlines and tried his luck from just outside the centre circle, the effort flying harmlessly wide. Two minutes later and Castro was terrorizing the Tilbury defence and Fairs had to be called into action once again to prevent the striker from opening the scoring.

Tilbury had a throw after 22 minutes which led to Murphy winning the ball and drive for a counterattack, but Lester Ward won the ball back and his attempted cross was seized by James Philp.

Seven minutes later and it was Tilbury's number 7 who broke on the counter. Tyler Forbes adjusted his run perfectly to beat the offside trap and bore down on City's goal. Philp saving at the near post from the visitor's only shot on target from the first 45.

A minute later, and City broke the deadlock. Mason began the attack and the ever present Castro fired a cross to the far post. The ball met the head of Usman Adeniji, and the defender's header found the bottom left corner to give City a deserved lead.

Tilbury looked for an immediate response, and they almost found in when Philp was called to use all his abilities to clear off the line following a goal-mouth scramble from a throw.

City continued to be patient, and Castro fed the ball to Smith. With no other options, Smith tried on his own from 25 yards. The effort was hit high and wide.

After a handball claim had been waved away by the referee, a long ball up from Sam Coombes was judged perfectly to find Castro's feet. The ex-Chippenham midfielder beat an anxious Fairs, who misjudged his run, but was then forced wide. Luke Reeve lunged in for a challenge and caught the City man, allowing Liam Botten an opportunity to give a penalty. George Smith stepped up to emphatically find the bottom-left corner to double his side's lead.

With the half coming towards the end, Dan Trendall looked for captain Oli Spooner, Murphy doing his defensive duties to clear up for a corner. Kieran Jones' corner came to Darren Phillips, the FA Vase winner with Romford then fired at goal but his shot was comfortably blocked. Adeniji then came down the other end for a counter attack and his cross nearly found Smith but Fairs came in with an expertly timed punched to clear the danger.

The 2^nd half started with Tilbury the aggressive team instead. Hassan Nalbant was sent through, with James Philp defending the clean sheet with his left leg.

A Tilbury corner kick came soon after, Nalbant connected well but his header spun wide. Another Tilbury foray into the City box saw Dan Trendall felled in the area and Liam Botten blew for the 2^nd penalty of the match. Nalbant stepped up, but Philp denied the striker and then came up with a stunning 2^nd save to keep City's clean sheet hopes intact.

With 62 minutes gone, City looked for a 3^rd, Coombes' long diagonal ball up to Mason allowed the defender to aim a cross towards Castro, with Fairs tipping the effort over the crossbar. The resulting corner was headed home by Jayden Randell for a 3-0 lead.

Randell then turned from goalscorer to defender as a Tilbury corner was headed towards goal by Forbes, and City's captain headed clear off the line.

  City had a few more chances to score a fourth, Fairs saving from Smith once again after neat play from Thompson and substitute Joseph Boachie.

Tilbury then had their best chance to score a consolation, when Ezra Agyiri looked up and found Nalbant storming into the penalty area. The cross found the striker but Nalbant fired over the crossbar from a mere six yards.

A couple more changes came each end, but City rode out the win to continue their unbeaten start under Mickey Spillane.

Cambridge City continued their upward momentum by beating Tilbury, a win that stretched their form to 4 wins in a row in all competitions. A result that gave City their 4^th clean sheet in 5 games. The Lilywhites are next in action on Tuesday night when they face Newmarket Town for the 2^nd time this term, with the Jockeys winning the reverse fixture, 2-1.

Connor Taylor-Creek