RYMAN One North leaders East Thurrock bounced back from their weekend disappointment at Needham Market with a thoroughly assured performance against Harlow, dominating the match for all but the last five minutes reports The Essex Enquirer.
On a wet and slippy surface they set a high tempo from the off and might have opened the scoring in the third minute when Joe Keith’s exquisitely delivered free kick opened the far post door for Kris Newby to head home but he was slightly off target and the ball came back off the inside of the post and across the face of goal to safety.
Lesser sides might have worried they had offended the footballing Gods, as in Saturday’s defeat at Needham the killer goal came in not dissimilar circumstances, only for the ball to bounce in off an upright rather than away.
But Rocks don’t dwell on self pity and within another three minutes they had taken the lead when a sensational pass from Stanley Muguo left the visiting defence flat-footed and Newby raced onto it, cut inside and then drove a low shot past keeper James Hassell for his 18th league goal of the season and 23rd in all.
The game was one way, with Harlow constantly on the back-foot and Kye Ryel clipped a shot just past the post at the end of one of many fluent attacks.
It seemed just a matter of time until a second Rocks goal was created and that moment came on 28 minutes when another incisive ball from the impressive Muguo set Newby free again and he squared a pass into the path of Reiss Gilbey who struck a low shot through a melee of defenders into the net.
Rocks might have grabbed a third in the last minute of the half when Ruel’s fine run and cross was desperately defended by Sacha Opiner, who was grateful to see his outstretched leg guide the ball across goal and just past the upright.
The home side maintained the pace at the start of the second half and Gilbey forced saves from Hasell from alternative angles.
The young midfielder was proving a dominant force and it was no sprprise when he popped up for Rocks’ third, heading in from close range after meeting Newby’s superb cross on the hour.
That took the tempo out of the match and as a sticky surface began to take its toll on tired legs, the energy drifted away.
To their credit Harlow battled to the end and they actually pegged Rocks back for the closing five minutes, winning a succession of corners. However, they didn’t really trouble Rocks keeper Richard Wray, who only really had once scrambling low save to make in the entire 90 minutes, and the victory was never really in doubt.
