Bill Robinson reports from Ship Lane………..
After three consecutive defeats Thurrock were looking to get their play off ambitions back on track here tonight against Woking.
It was another good start and a goal scoring chance fell as early as 2 minutes when Leon McKenzie broke through the Woking back four and let fly with a right footed shot but keeper Ross Worner managed to push it away for a corner.
Woking played there part in an entertaining half and both Harry Arter and Moses Ademola came close to putting the visitors ahead.
Thurrock did get the ball into the net on 15 minutes when Leon McKenzie headed the ball into the path of Paul Olima who then lifted the ball over the advancing Worner and into the net. Unfortunately Referee Mr Paul Forester had adjudged that McKenzie had fouled his marker, Jon Boardman, when heading the ball to Olima.
But it was the visitors that eventually broke the deadlock, they were awarded a free kick about 25 yards out on the left and it was taken by Giuseppe Sole, who drove a shot over the wall and the ball crashed against the upright and away. Thurrock tried to clear their lines but the ball was again driven back into the Thurrock box were striker Craig Faulconbridge headed home the first goal.
Thurrock found themselves defending for the most part of the half and managed to keep Woking just to the one goal.
In the second period Thurrock came out looking more like play off contenders and with more determination to level the score line.
On 53 minutes their pressure paid off with an equalizer, the goal came from a corner taken on the right by Lee Flynn, the cross was long and deep into the danger area, the ball was headed back across goal by the Woking defenders only for Kenny Clark to race in and head the ball back but into the net.
Thurrock only managed to hold the score level for five minutes when Woking broke away and attacked down the left flank, the ball came across and as keeper Joe Woolley tried to contain Rikki Anane and the ball, Anane squared the ball into the path of Harry Arter who had a simple task of side footing the ball home.
Thurrock continued to pressure the Woking goal and created a number of half chances, but they had to wait until the 73rd minute before Phil Anderson scored a splendid equalizer. Anderson had come on as sub in the 37th minute when Rob Swaine had to go off because of a cut head just above his eye.
The goal came from another corner and it was Anderson’s movement that enabled him to run onto the ball and head into the far corner of the net.
With only seconds remaining Thurrock nearly snatched a late winner, a well worked throw in taken by Flynn, found McKenzie at the near post, he flicked the ball over to Paul Olima and his header rolled agonizingly across the goal line just needing a touch to but it in the goal but none came, so the game ended all square.
Thurrock: Joe Woolley, Craig Pope, Lee Flynn, Kenny Clark, Rob Swaine (Phil Anderson), Matt Bodkin, Leon Lalite, David Bryant, Fola Orinolishe, Leon McKenzie, Paul Olima.
Subs Not Used : Jamie Doyle, Matt Paine, Reiss Gilbey, Lewis Smith
