While there’s still a long way to go before the destination of Essex Senior League title is determined, there’s no doubt that the visit of league leaders Tilbury to Rookery Hill tomorrow is a crucial fixture as the second half of the season unfolds.

Tilbury have been in phenomenal form since Romford won at Chadfields on August Bank Holiday Monday, so Boro will need to be at their best to repeat that result. Two goals from Michael Turner earned Boro a 2-1 win that day, but since then The Dockers have gone 20 games unbeaten in all competitions. The only league games that they have failed to win were away against White Ensign and at home against Coggeshall Town, both of which they drew 1-1. In one of the FA Vase ties included in that run they needed penalties to see off Saffron Walden Town after the game had ended goal-less after 90 minutes. Last Saturday they won 1-0 at Walsham-le-Willows to reach the 5th Round of the Vase - in which they have been drawn at home to North Greenford United - for the first time.

Unlike Boro, who have not played a league game since before Christmas, Tilbury have managed to play one league game in 2024. On the first Saturday of the New Year, they went to Little Oakley and won 4-1, but their home game against West Essex on Tuesday this week fell victim to a frozen pitch.

Michael Turner heads Boro’s second goal in the game at Chadfields in August. Photo by Alan Blackholly.

Tilbury have kept clean sheets in five of the six Vase ties that they have played this season, and they have the best defensive record in the ESL, having conceded just 14 goals in 21 games, and have let in only 4 in 9 games on their travels. At the other end, Tilbury have notched 49 goals in the 21 league games they have played to date with Roman Campbell leading the goalscoring charts with 15 to his name.

Relegated from Isthmian League North at the end of last season, Tilbury took a little time to adjust to life at Step 5, losing 3-0 at home to Athletic Newham in their opening ESL game and then failing to score in their next two games, in which they drew 0-0 with Great Wakering Rovers in the league and lost 5-0 at FC Romania in the FA Cup. They won two and lost two of their next four league games, but they have not lost since the second of those defeats, which came against Boro.

Brief History of Tilbury FC:

Formed in 1889 by workers at Tilbury docks -hence the nickname - Tilbury played in a variety of local leagues before joining the London League in 1946. They subsequently played in the Corinthian League, the Delphian League, and the London League – which they won four years on the trot between 1959 and 1962. They then joined the Athenian League, winning Division Two at the first attempt, and Division One in 1969. Tilbury joined the Isthmian League in 1973, and aside from one season in the Southern League, and one in the Essex Senior League in 2005-06, have been an Isthmian side ever since until their relegation at the end of last season.

Among the club’s honours are the Isthmian League Division Two title in 1976 and the Isthmian League Cup in 1975 and 2009. The Dockers have won the Essex Senior Cup four times and were the last club to lift the Essex Professional Cup.

Previous Meetings:

Since 1992, Romford have met Tilbury on thirty-seven occasions; Boro’s record is W14, D5, L18, F58, A67. All but six of those games have been Isthmian League games, and there were two Essex Senior League matches in 2005-06, Tilbury’s only previous season in the competition. Those games went in favour of the away sides with Romford winning 2-1 at Chadfields thanks to goals from Ben Tolley and Jordan Tolan, with the game at Rush Green ending 3-1 to The Dockers; Danny Church scored Boro’s goal while Jordan Tolan had by now joined Tilbury and scored their first goal in that game.

Prior to this season and Boro’s 2-1 win at Chadfields, the most recent games between the teams were in the Isthmian League in 2021-22 when Tilbury won 2-1 at Mayesbrook Park and 3-0 at Chadfields.

Other Boro teams in action this weekend:

Romford Reserves are in Essex Senior League South action tonight with a game against Grays Athletic Reserves at The Lakeside Sports Ground in Chafford Hundred. Grays are currently top of the division while Boro are seventh. The sides met at the same venue recently in the Reserve Divisional Cup in a game in which Grays came out on top 5-2. Tonight’s game kicks off at 8pm.

Romford FC Women are without a game this weekend and play next on 28th January when they are away to Corinthians Women.

This weekend’s Essex Senior League fixtures:

Friday 19th January:

Ilford v Frenford At Barking FC
Woodford Town v Buckhurst Hill

Saturday 20th January:

FC Clacton v Halstead Town 2pm
White Ensign v Great Wakering Rovers 2pm
Athletic Newham v Hullbridge Sports
Coggeshall Town v Little Oakley
Romford v Tilbury
Saffron Walden Town v West Essex
Sporting Bengal United v Barking
Stanway Rovers v Takeley