Bill Robinson reports from Ship Lane…….
It’s been three hundred and seventy nine minutes of play since Thurrock last scored a goal and that goal by Leon McKenzie at the end of March kept alive Thurrock’s hopes of a play off place at the time, how differently the table now looks.
Tonight and as previously Thurrock played the better football had the greater possession but simply could not the ball into the net. Many chances were created but the finishing was either poor or saved by the Hampton keeper, Matt Lovett.
Hampton took the lead within a minute of the restart, the ball was played out wide and picked up by David Tarpey his hopeful shot from range looked safe until it took a deflection which wrong footed keeper Joe Woolley and the ball finished in the back of the net.
Thurrock mounted a concerted effort to get back on level turns but it wasn’t until the final twenty minutes did their efforts look effective. The list of chances goes on, Matt Paine hit the bar and the post, Matt Bodkin had two good efforts well saved, Leon McKenzie had a header just wide.
Then totally against the run of play Hampton had a break away on the right flank, Matt Paine chased Leon Yarney, but pulled up with a painful knee and as Yarney continued his laboured run into the penalty area he placed his shot wide of Woolley to give the visitors a comfortable win.
It’s a pattern that has haunted Thurrock throughout the second half of the season, playing the better football but unable to finish off the opposition, especially the poorer sides.
It has cost them a dear as they dropped away from the play off zones and into mid table.
With just one game remaining at home to Bromley this Saturday lets hope they can finish on a high.
