Two late goals ensured the points were shared but Blues would have been aggrieved at three controversial refereeing decisions, denied goals in the first half for a debatable offside and an alleged foul and then punished with a penalty late in the second which seemed harsh to many. The game though failed to live up to the hype, quality football was at a premium neither side able to master the uneven surface in a closely contested first half. Tilbury dominated possession after the break mainly due to Blues failure to compete in vital areas. The game was marred after the controversial penalty with a crowd disturbance which no doubt the authorities will deal with in due course, such a pity on Non League Day.

Blues made a bright enough start forcing early corners and pressurising the Dockers goal, but failing to trouble George Martin between the sticks.

The Dockers were the first to carve out a goal scoring opportunity forcing Danny Sambridge into a smart save and for a time held sway prompted by Lee Noble at the heart of their forward momentum. A mistake by Geoff Okonkwo presented an opportunity for Brian Moses but his tame header was gathered comfortably by Sambridge.

Martin was at last tested when he turned a David Knight free kick behind at full stretch, the duel between the two continued when a teasing Aron Gordon cross saw Knight's header brilliantly pushed behind again by Martin. Okonkwo then came to Blues rescue, a ball to the far post was headed away under the woodwork. Sambrook then made a crucial save from an Ayo Shogbeni pile driver.

On 38 minutes Blues had the ball in the net and the first moment of controversy - Anointed Chukwu chased down a ball tussling with Shogbeni, under pressure the defenders lob sailed over Martin, Blues celebrated, Dockers did not appeal for a foul, but to everyones amazement the official blew for a foul by the Grays man.

HT 0-0

After conceding early goals in previous weeks shortly after the break Blues fans nerves would have been jangling and although the Dockers pressurised they failed to make the breakthrough - they were helped though by some less than convincing Blues defending.

A succession of menacing corners put further pressure on Sambridge's goal but it wasn't breached, all Blues had to show at that stage was a wayward Gordon effort.

The Dockers continued to push Blues back given too much space and not closed down quickly enough, at this stage of the game the hosts looked sharper coming close to opening the scoring and only desperate Blues defending denied them.

Slowly Blues began to enjoy more of the ball and territory and could have grabbed the opener when Gordon chased down the ball wide on the Dockers right flank - forcing an error he cut the ball back to Chukwu in space, but he squandered the chance putting his shot wide .
But with just five minutes remaining another contentious refereeing decision went against Blues - from a Martin clearance the ball was played forward to Brian Moses, his poor first touch saw the ball run away from him, Sambridge tried to hack it away making minimal contact with the striker but the referee thought otherwise awarding a penalty duly converted by Charles Brown.

There followed a delay, but once the game got back underway Blues stirred in an effort to salvage something from the game setting up a frantic finale. Forcing Dockers back they pressed forward and on the stroke of full time a Gordon cross was met by the head of Callum Leahy beating Martin's despairing dive which some would say justice was done.

So not a classic, but Blues who were not at their best dug in to win a point which could prove vital at the end of the season. It's another trip on the road on Tuesday evening and another tough game against a resurgent Hullbridge Sports.

Sambridge, McQueen, Joynes (Brown 68), Okonkwo, Clark, Melaugh, Paxman(Moncur 80), Chukwu, Knight, Gordon

Subs not used:Hahn, Daniel, Watts