THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE of Grays Athletic, Andy Swallow has stepped down from his position at the club. In a statement on the club website, the chair of Grays Athletic, Keith Burns detailed the changes off the pitch. Mr Burns said: “Andy Swallow will step own as CEO following the under-18s final at Beaconsfield next week. His business partner Joel Nathan will thereafter takeover the role .
THE management and fans of Thurrock FC face a nervous few days as their immediate playing future hangs in the balance. The club have been charged with playing an ineligible player by the Football Association – and if the case is proved they will be deducted points – a move that will see them relegated to the Ryman One North next season.
GRAYS Athletics great season continued as the u-18s from the Southern Counties won their first final last night. This is just the first of three that they are in. They travelled to Colney Heath to play Reading FC in the Merton Shield.
THURROCK required a nail-biting penalty shootout to secure victory over Brentwood Town in the final of the Essex Pelly Under 18s Cup, completing an unprecedented County Cup quadruple in the process.
The result also saw the South Essex side avenge last season’s 2-1 defeat to the same opponents, whilst many of the squad had been involved in 2012’s Cassells Under 16s Cup final reverse against Tempest. “I’m massively over the moon for the boys,” beamed boss Mark Sambridge straight after the final whistle.
EAST THURROCK United’s great season ended in defeat as they lost 1-0 to Lowestoft at Crown Meadow. First sight of goal came in the 6th minute when Sam Higgins produced a header which went just over the bar. The Rocks were playing a direct game with David Bryant working hard in the channels.
THE ILL-DISCIPLINE that has marked out Aveley all season cost them dear as a ten man Millers were beaten 2-1 in the semi-final play off of Ryman Division One North.
In bright spring evening sunshine, Aveley started brightly on what was a perfect surface. Aveley were playing Jordan Cox on his own up front as the Maldon back four lay quite deep and it was that pressure that forced the first corner in the 10th minute.
AVELEY ended the season with a brilliantly entertaining 3-3 draw away at Soham Town Rangers and now look forward to Maldon in the play-off semi-final. Alex Read – who had missed a hatful on Wednesday night – opened the scoring with Aveley’s first attack, getting on the end of a rebounded effort from Junior Dadson, but a well-worked goal from Robbie Mason levelled just before the hour mark.
TILBURY made an inspiring comeback beating Ilford 3-2 in their last game of the season at home in an incredible match that saw dreadful weather conditions. The match started off slowly as both sides appeared to be feeling each other out. The first real chance came after 14 minutes as Tilbury’s Conor Mead found Emiel Aiken but he was unable to find the back of the net as his shot was struck wide of the Ilford goalpost.
A DISAPPOINTING last game for Thurrock although safe from relegation they were looking for three points to give themselves a respectable position in the table, as it turned out the defeat leaves them just above the relegation zone. Met Police took the lead in the seventeenth minute after Thurrock had won a corner,
A CHARLIE Henry goal two minutes from time earned Whitehawk victory in a match East Thurrock dominated for long periods but they were unable to force a breakthrough reports the Thurrock Enquirer. With the home side alrady crowned champions and Rocks secure in a play-off place, this was always likely to be a low key affair but nevertheless was an entertaining encounter, with both sides showing plenty of commitment.
Grays had nothing to prove and in many ways, the result will act as a leveller when they return to prepare for the new season in a couple of months. What people will remember is the presentation ceremony as skipper Lee Flynn lifted the trophy. The players wore t-shirts with the words THANK YOU..No 1 Fans emblazoned upon them. It illustrated the bond between fans and team that has seen them through the last three seasons.
ANOTHER thoroughly professional performance as East Thurrock beat Hastings Unitd 1-0 at Rookery Hill saw the Rocks virtually seal a place in the play offs. The victory by Kye Ruel goal means only an improbable win for Met Police against Thurrock on Saturday by over fifteen goals can stop them taking their place next week in what is another great landmark for the top team in the borough.
EAST Thurrock could, and probably should, have won this Ryman Premier clash by the proverbial country mile, but their performance and indeed the whole reason for the best season in the club’s history was encapsulated in the last 20 seconds of the match when the determination not to concede overshadowed everything else reports The Thurrock Enquirer.
THERE were two centuries to celebrate at Heybridge Swifts on Tuesday, though only one team was in the mood to do so. That was Ryman North champions Grays Athletic, who reached 102 points with their 2-1 victory. Heybridge’s goal made them the first team in the Ryman Leaguue to reach the 100 mark but the defeat means that they are out of the play-off race after hitting a patch of poor form at just the wrong time.
Another tremendous victory for the Rocks. A victory on Thursday will assure them of a play-off place. Vital vital win for the Fleet. Sixth from bottom but they can still get relegated! Grays break through the 100 point barrier with their eighteenth win in a row. Just magnificent.
AVELEY need two points from their last two games to make quite sure of a Ryman North play-off spot after Monday’s home win over Redbridge.
Millers dominated throughout the game but struggled to create clear cut chances until Jack Stevenson’s accurate finish provided the only goal late in the first half.
TILBURY left second place Maldon and Tiptree slightly disappointed after sharing six goals in an entertaining last away game of the season.
Paul Vaughan again wielded the changes, making seven changes from Thursday’s draw with Soham Town Rangers. The home side started well on a good playing surface. Tilbury took a surprise lead after 6 minutes when Sam Cutler played in Emiel Aiken who smashed into the roof of the net with a fine effort giving Willis little chance.
A MASSIVE game for Thurrock’s future in this division and for 82 minutes all was ok, but when Kingstonian snatched a winning goal just seven minutes from time the effect of other teams around them picking up points was evident and not good. The match never really came alive, Kingstonian where lethargic in approach and the solid Thurrock back four looked like holding out.
A shoe-string Potters Bar side inflicted a damaging defeat on the Millers after a lacklustre display saw them lose out 3-2 at Mill Field. Despite taking an early lead through Alex Read in just the fourth minute, Aveley found themselves level again five minutes later when Josh Hutchinson outmuscled Teddy Nesbitt at the far post, before striking a half volley in across the face of Andy Hall.
JOAO Carlos has fired Blues into the history books with a late winner to give Blues a magnificent 17th straight win in the league The league champions were behind as early as the 2nd minute when Baff Addae put the hosts ahead then Dave East was withdrawn with an injury after 12 minutes, replaced by Ryan Kirby.
THE ROCKS reinforced their play-off credentials with a competent 2-0 victory against Wingate and Finchley at Rokkery Hill. Thurrock dominated from the start. In the 5th minute, Sam Higgins had a gentle lob kicked off the line by Wingate defender, Daniel Braithwaite. However from the sideline, boss John Coventry was getting angry by the players sloppy mistakes. With just four games left, this could be the difference between premier and conference south.
The Rocks are looking tired and may feel they may need to win four out of four.Four defeats in a row but they still remain sixth from bottom. Anything could happen over next eight days!
EAST Thurrock were left to rue several missed opportunities but in the end showed character to battle back to take their unbeaten Ryman Premier run to 12 matches and maintain their push for a play-off spot. The draw, their 15th of the season in the league, leaves Rocks in sixth place, one place and one point behind Canvey who beat Thurrock 1-0 to go fifth. However, East Thurrock have a game in hand on the Gulls.
IT IS now officially squeaky bum time for East Thurrock United, Thurrock and Aveley. Sam Higgins in the 85th minute saves a point for East Thurrock as it bunches up for the play off places. Three defeats in a row for Fleet. Still in trouble bordering on deep trouble.
