THE Dockers badly needed to pick up points against Waltham Abbey at Chadfields.

Instead they lost by the odd goal in seven to leave themsleves embroiled in the relegation battle.

Third from bottom Tilbury were fortunate that the Waltham Forest side immediately above them lost to 4-1 to Witham Town.

But more worrying was that Wivenhoe Town's 1-0 win over Arlesey Town meant that the six-point gap between the Dockers and Wivenhoe has been cut to three.

And Ilford's 2-1 away win at Great Wakering Rovers meant that the bottom of the table side are now just four points in arrears of Tilbury.