Following a narrow League Cup defeat at home to Needham Market during the week, the visitors made two changes with Billy Harris and Ross Paterson returning to the side.

It was a first half to forget for Soham in a game which was technically over after only thirty-two minutes of play. Tilbury made the perfect start opening the scoring after only eight minutes when Carlile found room to make his way into the area from the right and square the ball across the penalty area for the unmarked Neil Richmond to roll it into an empty net. The hosts continued to attack and were giving the opportunity to double the score in the 19th minute after they were awarded a penalty when Groves tripped Richmond after he had got goal side of the defender, with Tony Martin powering his spot kick down the middle which former Dockers’ keeper Bogard managed to get a hand to but was unable to prevent it going in. Eli Benoit further increased the lead ten minutes later when he fired low into the net from a corner, before the score quickly became four in the 32nd minute with a similar goal to the opener with Emiel Aiken converting Aromaran’s ball across the area. Before the play restarted Relizani replaced Groves. Having seen little of the play in the opening half an hour, Soham’s first effort came shortly after the change as Adeboyejo placed at Butcher on the turn from the edge of the area with Richmond, Horne, Relizani and Foxley all having chances before the interval. Things got a lot worse for the Greens in first half stoppage time when Captain Jordan Gent was dismissed for kicking out at Emiel Aiken following a foul, with striker Dubi Ogbonna also being dismissed after being involved in an incident in the resultant melee between a number of players, with Aiken also collecting a caution.

Despite the two player advantage, Tilbury, who brought Peddie on for Smith at the break, were unable to add to their score in the second half, despite having more of the possession with Foxley firing an early shot at Butcher before Martin had a goal cancelled out for offside and firing a shot across goal. Just after the hour, the visitors introduced Elsom and Hall before Martin placed a shot under Bogard which came back off the far post. The hosts then brought on Odedoyin and Charles with the former heading narrowly over moments after coming on whilst Carlile put wide from distance. With thirteen minutes remaining, two of Rangers’ subs combined as Relizani made his way down the right, cutting in to play in Marcus Hall, who held off a defender to fire past Butcher to give Soham a consolidation goal. Into the final ten minutes of the game, Mead delivered a deep ball into the area, from which Charles rose to head against the bar, before Aiken cut in only to fire over and Odedoyin was denied by Bogard at his near post deep into stoppage time.

Soham Town Rangers
C. Bogard, S. Swinton, B. Harris, R. Horne (R. Elsom 61), J. Gent, L. Groves (S. Relizani 32), D. Foxley, R. Paterson, V. Adeboyejo (M. Hall 61), D. Ogbonna, R. Sharman
Unused: A. White, C. Russell

Tilbury
L. Butcher, C. Mead, R. Conway, D. Smith (S. Peddie 46), E. Benoit, T. Singh, T. Aromolaran (W. Odedoyin 67), J. Carlile, N. Richmond, T. Martin (J. Charles 74), E. Aiken
Unused: B. Willis, I. Saidy

Score: (4-0) 4-1

Goals
STRFC: M. Hall (77)
TFC: N. Richmond (8), T. Martin (Pen 19), E. Benoit (29), E. Aiken (32)

Yellow Cards
STRFC: S. Relizani (74), D. Foxley (84)
TFC: E. Aiken (45+1)

Red Cards
STRFC: J. Gent (45+1), D. Ogbonna (45+1)
TFC: None

Attendance: 84