DYNAMIC DUO WIN IT FOR BLUES

This local derby between the boroughs two oldest clubs in front of a sizeable crowd served up an entertaining evening of quality football played out in the right spirit. A brace from Carlos marked another significant milestone for the Blues legend marking 100 goals for the club in 381 appearances, Stoke's strike was his sixth league goal of the season, taking him and Carlos to the top of the BetVictor North division goal scorers. Tilbury will perhaps wonder how they didn't come away from Parkside with the points, after squandering a number of chances and missing a penalty brilliantly saved by Danny Sambridge in a period of pressure. Blues claimed the win because they were more clinical in front of goal taking their chances at a critical juncture in the game.

Early pressure from Blues created the first opening for Carlos making room for a snapshot - forcing a great save from Mitchell Ware turning the ball behind. Ware though was powerless when Blues pressure brought the opening goal on seven minutes - patient build up set up Nathan Fox, delivering a searching cross he found the head of Carlos looping his effort over Ware who despite getting a hand to the ball could only help it into the net.

Managing to find time and space on the ball Blues looked good value for their lead in the early stages, neat one touch football created opportunities for their front men, who looked sharp and hungry for the ball. The Dockers though recovered from the early set back and came close to levelling the scores when George Sykes set up ex Blue Brian Moses only to waste the chance firing into the side netting.

The game settled down after the early Blues goal - played out in midfield the Dockers wrested the initiative in their quest to seek an equaliser - Moses was exploiting space between Blues central defenders. Blues were now forced on to the back foot and could have conceded when Darren Phillips came close from a corner nodding over. Tilbury's best chance came when Moses inexplicably missed the target inside the six yard box, blasting wildly over with the goal gaping.

Blues were coming under pressure and not helping themselves, their passing lacking accuracy - taking too many touches allowing the Dockers to press further. They came close again when good build up found another ex Blue Eljay Worrell in space - he rifled an effort whistling just over with Sambridge beaten. Moses was culpable again when he failed to control the ball cleanly - another chance was lost.

After weathering the Dockers pressure Blues managed to break out and could have taken an unlikely two goal lead - Mitch Hahn raced free cutting the ball back to Stokes - side-stepping a challenge his shot looked bound for the net only to take a last minute deflection.

The half time whistle brought to an end an intriguing first period where Blues enjoyed early dominance, but were then pushed back and in truth fortunate to go in a goal to the good.

HT 1-0

The restart saw the Dockers come flying out of the blocks searching for an equaliser the pressure forcing Blues on to the back foot, defending deep the Blues goal led a charmed life, but a clumsy challenge by Rob Bartley on Sykes saw the referee point to the spot. Sykes stepped up, but his effort lacked power and was easily read by Sambridge who pushed the ball to safety.

Tilbury must have thought it was not going to be their night, but on 52 minutes they levelled the scores. Moses was instrumental in the build up, playing a quick one two he received the ball inside the Blues eighteen yard box - his miscontrol wrong footed Blues defenders giving him space to fire decisively past Sambridge.

The goal left the game finely balanced - it was clear whoever came up with the next goal would probably go on to win the game - chances came and went at either end. The visitors continued to look menacing going forward, pressing again forcing Blues to revert to long ball which was having little effect. Jim Cooper had seen enough and made a tactical change, Steve King and Stan Muguo replacing Jack McQueen and Bartley. The change had an immediate effect, providing stability at the back and steel in midfield.

Blues early tempo and passing game returned, they began to ask questions of Dockers defenders again. Wing backs Fox and Macauley Joynes were able to push further forward supporting the front men. Hahn's trade mark long throw provided King with an opportunity sending a drive just over.

Tension was mounting and with the game moving inside the final twenty minutes any mistake by either side would surely be punished and that's exactly what happened. In the 72nd minute Blues won a free kick out wide - delivered deep into the box Ware elected to punch clear, but failed to make a decisive connection the ball dropped to King his scrambled shot took a deflection into the path of Stokes who cooly side footed home.

The goal clearly deflated the Dockers leading to a drop in their energy levels allowing Blues to forage for a third goal - the pressure told when Stokes received the ball, pushing forward his shot blocked he picked up the rebound feeding Carlos making no mistake from close range.

The Dockers went for broke in the final minutes to try and salvage something from the game - Sambridge was forced into action punching clear on two occasions - in the final minutes Moses came close driving just wide of the upright.

Sambridge, Fox, Joynes, Miller Clark, Bartley (King 58), McQueen ( Muguo 58), Hahn, Dark, Stokes , Carlos.

Subs not used: Pearce , Kayembe K., Adebiyi