Dockers 0 - 0 City

Cambridge City made their 2^nd trip to Chadfields this season, their first visit came in October, when they played Grays Athletic to a 1-1 draw. The Lilywhites were coming into the game after beating 3^rd placed Waltham Abbey 1-0 the previous week, the winning goal being scored by Freddie Hockey. The win against the Abbots was City's first win in 8 league matches.

Tilbury were on a high after beating high-flyers Felixstowe & Walton United on Tuesday night. The win under the lights was Tilbury's 2^nd win in 3 matches, with the Dockers picking up all 3 points in their most recent home match, 3-0 vs Takeley.

Tilbury were hoping to get revenge on the Lilywhites, City had won the fixture at home, 3-0, and the Dockers started early. Soumen Nandi drove down on the left and Dan Trendall connected sharply with the incoming pass, but then sent his header spinning wide.

Jack Thompson then decided to try to make things happen when he embarked on a solo run after 17 minutes. Philip Mendy received the pass and sent in a teasing ball which just evaded everyone in the box and crept past the far post.

After 20 minutes came the first big goalmouth chance. A free-kick for City outside the penalty area was sent in, it then came out to Freddie Hockey, who hit a shot which was deflected on the way towards Billy Lawlor's goal. It came back out to allow Charley Barker to send in the following cross and Lawlor got a strong leg to the ball as a shot came through, with the Tilbury goalkeeper relieved that the score stayed 0-0.

A Tilbury free-kick came soon after, Ronnie Winn managed to break free and fire in a shot, it sped along the ground but Philp gobbled up the ball with ease. 

Mickey Spillane then saw red when he complained about a challenge in the centre of the pitch, Michael Robertson-Tant gave the City manager his marching orders. A Tilbury throw followed, with Philp punching the ball clear under  some pressure.

The first half wound down with City dominating the play. Aaron Williams-Bushell's cross found Lawlor in the hosts goal, the Tilbury shot-stopper diving to his right to parry away the danger. He was in action 2 minutes later, claiming a cross from Sam Coombes in a comfortable fashion.

Barker and Thompson combined well to win a corner on the left-hand side, Coombes sent in the corner and Tilbury's defence only just managed to thump the ball downfield and away after a goal-mouth scramble yielded nothing for the visitors. The half-time whistle blew shortly afterwards.

City had the most of the play in the 2^nd half.  An early corner was belted into the area and another goal-mouth scramble followed, with Tilbury's defence managing to hack it away.

Trendall then found himself on his own 30 yards out, and his speculative effort flew easily wide of the City goal.

Joshua Taylor then got himself into a great crossing position, Nandi got his head to the ball and forced Philp to come out and claim.

Mendy then started the waves of City attacks that followed. The first one started when Alex Warman instructed Mendy to deliver a cross after a well weighted pass from the no.8. Tilbury's defence stood firm and cleared away the danger.

City kept coming forward and each time Tilbury were able to withstand the onslaught. Mendy's throw allowed new man Jaiden Babalola to try his luck with a cross, which was then defended at the expense of a corner. Coombes took the corner, and Babalola's flick-on was dealt with by Trendall.

After City's pressure, Tilbury then came forward themselves. Nandi gave out to Lester Ward, who had come on for Taylor, and Ward aimed in a cross that missed his mark and the chance was lost. A Tilbury corner then came 3 minutes later and Philp did brilliantly well to punch off the line to keep Tilbury at bay.

City continued to press, Samrai Gebrai played Mendy through and the cross came in, only to be defended again by the Tilbury defence. Not long afterwards, Gebrai was penalised for a handball which most of the visiting supporters felt was harshly given.

A loose City throw followed afterwards, and Trendall believed he was away. Philp had other ideas and he got to the ball before the Tilbury attacker, to clear.

Neither team could really fashion any major chances from this point, and the game remained goalless. The stalemate meant that City moved to a 3 match unbeaten run, which started with a 1-1 draw away to Heybridge Swifts. Tilbury couldn't add to their win on Tuesday night, with the draw being their 6^th at home this term.

City will be in action as soon as Wednesday night, when they make the short trip to Gorleston, hoping to grab 3 points and add to their 3 match unbeaten streak.