Brentwood Town   1
Tilbury                  0

SHERWIN Stanley followed up his hat-trick heroics against Romford to again be the hero for Brentwood, coming off the bench to score a second-half winner that lifted Blues into third place in the Ryman North. 

It took until the 72nd minute for the home side to break down the Dockers’ defence, but it was a goal worth the wait. 

An intricate move involving James Love, Alex Akrofi and Sam Bantick set up Stanley, who produced a fine finish at the far post. 

Blues had been frustrated not to get a first-half lead. Robbie Rees shot just wide in the 14th minute after a good build-up between Danny Dafter, Akrofi and Tom Richardson. 

Tilbury centre back Jake Pooley produced a near-miraculous clearance to deny Richardson on the goal line after Dafter had headed a free kick at goal, and Akrofi leapt high to head a Bantick corner against the crossbar in the 25th minute.

Tilbury went close on the stroke of half-time when Neil Richmond hit a decent chance over the bar. 

Richmond had another half-chance in the second half, but Blues generally dominated with Akrofi’s pace troubling the Dockers’ defence more as they began to tire. 

With other results going Brentwood’s way on Easter Monday, it now looks likely they will secure a play-off place in the coming fixtures.

With four league games left to play, Blues have a seven-point lead over sixth-placed Wroxham, who have played one more game.