BRAINTREE TOWN 2 TILBURY 1

Essex Senior Cup third round

BRAINTREE Town booked their place in the fourth round of the county cup as they saw off a tough challenge from BetVictor Isthmian League division north side Tilbury at Cressing Road.

An Alfie Cerulli goal put the Iron ahead in the 18th minute, but the Dockers pulled level before half-time as Marlon Agyakwa fired in a free-kick and the south Essex side looked capable of causing an upset after the break.

However, Braintree kept their composure and an own goal in the 82nd minute wrapped up the tie for the hosts.

Braintree manager Glen Driver said: "I thought we were good in stages.

"I felt we shied away from the easy pass too often, but we created chances and it was a better performance than the Oxford City one.

"We also had four people making their debuts and it was nice to get minutes for them and other lads who came off the bench.

"These types of games are never easy; if you win 5-0 then it's a result you should have got and if you lose then people are saying that you should have won 5-0.

"So it's a no-win for us, but we got through and it's nice to be in the next round.

"It will be another Tuesday night game, which is good because we don't have many of them and I would prefer to play a game than have training if we can."

Driver was also pleased that the third round tie gave him a chance to introduce some new faces and he was impressed with how they did.

He added: "Byron Lawrence picked up the man-of-the-match award, which was a massive plus for him.

"I know him well from working with him at Leiston and I know he is good enough to be at this level.

"So it was good for him to get his full debut and also Rhys Murrell Williamson, who I also thought looked sharp.

"We have also brought in Jack James, who is a right-back, on trial and I felt he showed a lot of positivity.

"It's a position we are looking to fill as we have lost Harry Osbourne because of travelling commitments.

"Harry has moved to the other side of London and travelling that far with a young family is just too much so he has moved on and it was good to see Jack James do well in a position that we are looking to fill.

"And there was also Lucas Fitzpatrick, who did well when coming off the bench."