Welwyn Garden City were sent out of the the FA Trophy - losing on a penalty shoot-out at Tilbury.

The Citizens had taken the game to a shoot-out by scoring a 92nd minute spot-kick, given after handball by Macauley Joynes to a Lewis Jones cross.

Bailey Stevenson converted that to make it 1-1 and cancel out a first-half goal from Alex Afori.

Tilbury were down to 10 men by that point, Alfie Fry sent off for two yellow cards, the last of which came on 79 minutes.

But it was the Dockers who advanced 6-5 in the shoot-out.

After a 4-1 loss at home to Barton Rovers in the league last time out, manager Marc Weatherstone went for four changes.

Ryan Sellers, Charlie McDonald, Matty Whichelow and Lewis Taafe dropped out with Ryan Kirwan, Jack Vasey, Lucas Jordan and Henry Jones coming in.

Welwyn would have taken a lot from their first-half performance but they would also have had a lot to discuss at the break.

First and foremost they were a goal down at that point.

Harry Gallagher had tried to pass the ball out from defence but Tilbury gathered, leading to a Sam Bantick shot across the goal from the right that was well saved by the diving Harold Poku.

Akrofi's touch on the rebound pushed it goalwards and the ball got there despite a defender sticking a leg out and diverting it onto the underside of the bar.

Moments later Tilbury supporters were left holding their breath as Jamie Reynolds seemed to lash out at a prone Jordan.

In the end there was only a yellow for both players.

Tilbury also hit the bar after Jed Ejjayha couldn't clear, Bantick again the man denied.

From there though it was mostly WGC possession but without any real threat.

One cross from the left that was just too high for the incoming Brad Wadkins was better and late on Layne Eadie was denied at the near post by a smart save from Christian North.

It was all a little laboured though when it got close to the Tilbury box and that especially would have been something Weatherstone would have wanted to put right.

That could have been the reason for a half-time switch, Lewis Jones coming on for Jordan and going up front with Bailey Stevenson, pushing Henry Jones back to an attacking midfield role while Wadkins went deeper alongside Vasey.

The opening five minutes didn't show any major change to the flow of the game, just one more yellow card per side.

Stevenson had one chance to pull the trigger but opted to try and play substitute Jones in, and the opportunity was lost.

It was Tilbury who were having the better of the play and the more glaring opportunities.

Twice City were thankful for an offside flag as they got caught out by a high ball into the box, the second prevented a Bantick goal after Poku came for and failed to get to the cross.

Eadie had the only chance of note but got the shot all wrong and sent it very high above the home goal.

And as the game moved into the final 15 minutes, the former Potters Bar full-back was involved in a near-miss for Welwyn.

His corner from the right was met by Wadkins coming in on it and the header skewed past North, but only to find Kieran Jones.

But the visitors were given a lifeline with 11 minutes to go as Fry was sent-off. One of those booked at the start of the second period, he was singled out for time-wasting at a free-kick and walked.

Stevenson produced a good run and shot on the volley but it was close enough for North to push the shot away.

Then came the late penalty drama, first Stevenson scoring in the second minute of stoppage time and then the shoot-out itself.

Stevenson had his penalty saved by North but Welwyn scored their next three before Poku saved Sam Carter's effort.

It went to sudden death and after Zuriel Otseh-Taiwo sent his effort over the bar, keeper North put the winning penalty away.

Match details

Tilbury (1) 1 Welwyn Garden City (0) 1

Tilbury win 6-5 on penalties

Welwyn Garden City: Poku, Otseh-Taiwo, Eadie, Ejjayha, Gallagher, Kirwan, Vasey (Bryant 61), Jordan (L.Jones 46), Stevenson, Wadkins, H.Jones (Crilley 84).

Subs (not used): D.Green, Weatherstone.

Goals: Stevenson (pen) 90+2

Booked: Jordan 26, H.Jones 45+5, Gallagher 50, Bryant 76, Ejjayha 82

 

Tilbury: North, Fry, Joynes, Carter, Martin, Hayes, Bantick (Donovan 76), Spooner, Reynolds, Akrofi (Metalia 81), Agunbiade, K.Jones (Agun.

Subs (not used): Agunbiade.

Goals: Akrofi 22

Booked: Reynolds 26, Fry 47, 79, Joynes 79

Sent-off: Fry 79

 

Added time: 5+5

Referee: Simon Cutler (Kent FA)

Attendance: 242