After failing to score or pick up a point from the opening 2 league games Boro travelled to South Essex looking to kick start their league season.
With a bit of shuffling, and a first league start for Alex Nicolaides, Boro lined up:
Reuben Rabstein; Ebenezer Addo-Kuffour; Tosin Olufemi; Jorge Djassi-Sambu; Dan Carey-Evans; J’Ardell Stirling; Richard Ennin; George Aresti; Derek Asamoah; Manny Yeboah; Alex Nicolaides
Subs: Michael Acquah (GK); Louis Maffia; Demmy Nicolaou; Caleb Dennis; Fred Agyemang
In contrast to the glorious weather Boro’s start was anything but bright. Tilbury went on the front foot from the off and Boro seemed to have little answer. Under pressure and being made to defend it was little surprise when the hosts took the lead after 4 minutes. Like Saturday, an attacking free kick was their undoing, and it was an opposing centre half again. This time twisting round to flick a header past a committed Rabstein.
It could have been worse before Boro started to find their feet. First, they managed to scramble a ball clear after a defensive mis-communication, then further disorganisation forced Reuben into a last ditch save. The resulting corner headed over. Manny had Boro’s first effort soon after but his shot was straightforward for the keeper.
After Tilbury had narrowly missed adding to their lead from a corner, they did double the advantage on 25 minutes. Boro were out of shape and an emphatic far post header put the hosts 2 up.
And finally Boro started to play better. Tilbury had to work hard in defence to prevent Boro getting a clear shot from a corner, then Alex forced a rushed backpass, and Derek narrowly missed charging down the keeper’s clearance.
Ebz then won a freekick near the angle of the box. The kick flicked behind for a corner. Sambu couldn’t climb high enough from the set piece and his header went wide.
As we went into added time Boro had a golden opportunity to reduce the deficit. Tosin cut in from the right and as a defender went to clear his pull back, George nipped in from his blind side, was caught and the referee pointed to the spot.
Derek stepped up, drilled the kick just to the left of centre, but the keeper had guessed right, with Derek unable to control an awkward rebound before the defenders recovered.
A final half chance saw Dan, under pressure, unable to get any power on a header.
The second half looked as if it might begin exactly as the first had. Within 30 seconds Reuben had made a terrific low save after Boro were exposed in the left back area.
The fact it didn’t follow the same pattern as the first half almost came out of nowhere. Cutting in from the left, 25 yards out Manny decided to try his luck, And what a try it was. The ball whistled past the keeper into the top corner, and Boro were now back in the game, and had a first league goal in just over 225 minutes of action.
But that hope took an almost immediate knock back. A free kick was conceded centrally 25 yards out. A superb effort beat Reuben but hit the inside of the post and went back across gaol where an onrushing attacker was composed enough to tuck away.
Boro were playing better though. Derek spun in the area but the angle was against him as he shot straight at the keeper. George had a better chance from the edge of the area but skied his effort.
the game started to get broken up, first by a couple of injury breaks, then as the inevitable substitutions started. Tilbury made a couple, then with 20 to go Fred came on for Richard.
If Tom’s intention was for an impact sub, he got it. Reuben got down well to stop a shot from the edge of the box. Quick as a flash he was up and bowled the ball out to Aresti. George played Alex in on the right. Alex took a couple of touches, looked up, made half a yard then swung in the most delicious cross. Fred had got between the centre halves and was there to head towards goals. It seemed to take an age for the ball to hit the ground, bounce up onto the underside of the bar and final nestle in the back of the net, but once again Boro were back in it.
However, the home side were not content to just sit back. They won another free kick near the Boro area. Again, it was taken direct, and again, it hit the woodwork. The fact it did, and did not re-establish a 2 goal lead, was down to a flying Reuben who magnificently turned the ball onto the bar. The luck was with him this time and the danger went away.
With 5 minutes to go Demmy replaced George and Tilbury looked happy to try and soak up a bit of pressure and hit Boro on the break.
Despite this Boro couldn’t fashion that one chance. The ball popped up to Tosin in the area but it span awkwardly off his head as he tried to head for goal.
Added time came as Caleb came on for Ebz and the Boro faithful were hoping for one final chance. It came and went in a flash. Fred drove forward and as the defenders retreated he pulled back towards Demmy running in from deep. But as he reached the ball a defender flung himself in the path of his goalbound effort.
Boro did foray forward once more but as they won a throw near the corner flag in the 8th minute of added time the final whistle blew.
Next, it’s back to FA Cup action on Saturday 31st August as Boro travel to Brightlingsea Regent.
Att:305
