TILBURY boasted a former Premier League striker in their side as they beat Hashtag United in front of more than 300 fans at Chadfields.

Lomana LuaLua, who counts Newcastle United and Portsmouth among his former clubs, played the second half of the 1-0 win over the YouTube team set to enter the Thurlow Nunn League Division One South this season.

LuaLua featured for the Isthmian North side after contacting Dockers boss Joe Keith, who was coming through the Colchester United ranks when LuaLua made his breakthrough with the U’s before securing a £2.25million move to Sir Bobby Robson’s Newcastle in September 2000.

However, the only goal of the game came from a Tilbury regular in the first half.

The pre-season friendly was preceded by a minute’s applause in memory of lifelong Dockers supporter Mavis Billinghurst, who recently passed away.

Hashtag United goalkeeper Andy Jeffs-Watt presented Tilbury captain Jack Carlile with flowers, on behalf of his club, in memory of Billinghurst just before kick-off.

The flowers were then laid on the terraces where Billinghurst would have stood.

The only goal of the game came on 13 minutes, when striker Adam Vyse found the back of the net.

Both sides enjoyed impressive spells of possession and Jeffs-Watt was forced into a number of fine saves.

Former Democratic Republic of Congo international LuaLua, 37, emerged for the second half and showed skill on the ball.

But the frontman, who played in the clash with his son, was unable to notch a goal on his Dockers debut.