Eton Manor 1, Tilbury 4

TILBURY'S increasingly strong challenge for Westview Essex Senior League honours took another step forward with this emphatic victory against their tenants at Chadfields, inspired by a fine performance from Keith Wilson who netted twice.

Sadly the match was marred by the petulant antics of Manor's Jason McCarthy who stamped on Danny McGoldrick off the ball on 38 minutes and earned himself a red card. Not content with that he then spat at the referee. To his credit, Eton boss Kirk Whitlock said immediately afterwards that the player will not represent his club again - though an Essex FA ban is likely to make sure he doesn't play for anybody for a long time!

If that was the downside of an improved performance by Manor, the upside was their ninth minute opener.

There had been a lengthy break in play for an injury to Tilbury's Tim Ademosu before Eton Manor broke free down the right and Lee Hattam was caught out of position and the ball was clipped into path of Jamie Wallace who gently chipped it over the head of Adam Seal.

However the lead only blast two minutes. Tilbury won a freekick which Wilson drifted into the box and Paul Doherty could only help it into his own net.

For a spell Manor worked hard and looked the more threatening of the two sides but their best chance came when Peter Kana was upended after beating the last defender, just outside the penalty box but the free kick was hit straight into the hands of Seal.

McCarthy, showing the better side of his character, then sent a diving header just over the bar!

Dockers then seized control the initiative and took the lead on 34 minutes when Joe Andrews picked out Wilson who chested the ball down, controlled it and lashed a shot across the keeper into the net.

Wilson then turned provider on 35 minutes, putting over a corner that caused confusion in the Eton defence and Hattam headed home.

Then came McCarthy's acts of stupidity, which began with a foul on Wilson, followed by the stamp on Tilbury skipper McGoldrick.

Ademosu, who had never fully recovered from his injury, was replaced by Danny Exley just before the break.

The second half was something of a low key affair, with few chances at either end. Eton Manor debutant Patrick Thompson was always a thorn in Tilbury's side but he lacked support.

Appropriately the last word was to be with Wilson on 854 minutes when he picked the ball up on the edge of the box and curled a superb strike just under the crossbar.

Tilbury will face tougher tasks than this, but they were professional and effective throughout and from third place in the table will begin to fancy their chances of wresting the title from favourites Hornchurch.