Southend Manor 5, Tilbury 2

TILBURY'S recently improved form disappeared as they crashed to a Thames-side Trophy defeat at Southend Manor on Tuesday night.

Injuries meant Dockers were missing top scorer Paul Cobb, Bobby Port and Joe Andrews, while Keith Wilson has been released but they were bolstered by the capture of former Barkingside keeper Lee Newcomb between the sticks.

And they also pointed an accusing finger at some questionable refereeing decisions, with assistant manager Gary Heywood sent from the bench for his protests.

However they were generally second best to fellow Essex Senior league side Manor, who have now beaten them four times this season.

Newcomb must have wondered what he had let himself in for as abysmal defending saw Manor take a three goal lead in the first half hour, with Ross Webster opening their account on 15 minutes and Ben Bennett adding two more on 20 and 29 minutes.

The first of those provoked furious claims of offside from the Tilbury camp, with Heywood taking his protest too far and being sent from the sidelines.

Tilbury managed to drag themselves back into the game with a goal from Dave Webster after 39 minutes but any optimism lasted just 60 seconds, as Ryan Hodgson restored the three goal advantage.

Tilbury boss Tony Cross made a triple substitution at half time but it made little difference and though Simon Deakin did pull another goal back with seven minutes remaining the last word was with manor who grabbed their fifth close to the final whistle to confirm a home meeting with Burnham Ramblers in the next round.