Tilbury 1-1 Waltham Forest

Former Forest stopper Chico Ramos produced a superb display to deny Forest all three points in an entertaining encounter at Chadfields.

In challenging conditions, Forest started the brighter side, with new signings Leon Fisher and Mark Tumwasi going straight into the starting line-up.

However, it was L’Hereaux Menga who was given the first opportunity of the game. Some neat passing in midfield resulted in Menga being put through with only Ramos to beat. From a tight angle, Menga could only blaze well over.

It became increasingly difficult for either side to carve out a meaningful chance, until the stroke of half time when the deadlock was broken.

Piers Wixon was given too much time on the edge of the box and was allowed to unleash a sumptuous half-volley into the top corner of the net.

Forest started the first half well, and faded spectacularly. The second half proved to be a reversal of this. After being poor for the opening 20 minutes, the introductions of Lee Scott, Richard Worrell and Chinedu McKenzie rallied Forest and helped them deliver a blistering 25 minutes of attacking football.

It was McKenzie who turned the game on its head, levelling the scores with a powerful effort from a tight angle, somehow beating Ramos at the near post.

Worrell then had a golden opportunity to give Forest the lead. A breakaway attack meant Forest had a three on two situation, but Worrell fired over with Scott and McKenzie screaming for the pass.

Worrell then went even closer, seeing his goal-bound effort somehow tipped wide by Ramos.

Forest continued to press in the dying moments of the game, but couldn’t quite force the second goal.