A generally dull encounter at Theobalds Lane saw The Ambers come away with a deserved victory against fellow mid-table opposition Tilbury.

The game was very scrappy, with both teams thundering passes here, there, and everywhere, with no real effect or end product. Three players made debuts for Cheshunt; goalkeeper Chris Goodchild, recently released from Queens Park Rangers, along with defenders Samson Oki and Aaron Scott.

It looked like it was going to be a long game for the home side, as after just five minutes Chris Stone was left wide open for Tilbury, only to see his effort sliced way wide of the goal. Gary Schillachi got himself into the referee's book after just fifteen minutes for a slightly late challenge (the general consensus being that it was not a booking, just a foul) before ten minutes later he went in for a 50/50 ball uncharacteristically with two feet, and got himself dismissed from the field of play for a second yellow card.

Before this, however, in the eighteenth minute, Ashley Taylor-Forbes had got himself into a good position to shoot, but he chose the wrong option of squaring the ball, to no avail. The goal for Cheshunt came on thirty-two minutes, after Duane Jackman's shot fell to a Tilbury defender. Taylor-Forbes ran in and tackled him before, as cool as a cucumber, he rolled the ball past the 'keeper for 1-0.

Just before half-time, Jay Taylor got himself booked for the visiting side, after he brought down Duane Jackman on the edge of the area. It looked like Cheshunt had doubled their lead just after the interval, as a Taylor-Forbes free-kick hit Junior Baker at the back post, although the ball went agonisingly wide, sparing the Tilbury man his blushes.

Jamie Wallace was booked for the visitors on the hour mark, for foul-mouthing the referee about a free-kick  and the Ambers were looking increasingly shaky though as the half progressed, with Jamie Wallace and Chris Stone allowed to dribbled around in the penalty area on seperate occasions although neither was able to get a shot away.

An argument flared on sixty-five minutes as a deflected Tilbury cross was fumbled by debutant goalkeeper Chris Goodchild, who was kicked by Chris Stone. Reece Prestedge defended the goalkeeper although the referee kept his cards in his pocket on this occasion.

Cheshunt had a superb chance to double the lead moments later, as Taylor-Forbes once again ran at the defence. He cut the ball back to Mervin Abraham but the Cheshunt striker couldn't connect to it. Jason Fontaine hit the post for the visitors with a half-volley, before Cheshunt appeared scared to shoot around the Tilbury area. Yohance Lewis saw a swinging cross hit the post too before Carl Bailey pulled Mervin Abraham's shirt. Despite being the last man, and stopping a clear goalscoring opportunity, he escaped with a booking.

 
Cheshunt: Goodchild, Schillachi (s/o 27'), Parry, Dobson, Oki (Scott 53'), Gradosielski, Taylor-Forbes, Prestedge, Bradford (Harrison 58'), Jackman (Lewis HT), Abraham (c)
Unused: Ricketts
 
Tilbury: Hall, Taylor, Keith, Wallace (c), Barrett, Fontaine, Black, Cotton, Sayni, Stone, Baker
Subs: Bailey, Mason, Smith, Barrett, Tettch

Attendance: 145