Thurrock 3 Eastleigh 1
Blue Square Bet South
Bill Robinson reports from Ship Lane…………..
A disastrous last five minutes saw Thurrock throw away a valuable point with a bizarre own goal and then poor defending gifting the visitors two late goals and three points.
Thurrock looked to have broken the deadlock in the 21st minute when on a rare move outside their own half saw them put together good combination of passes resulting in a 22yard shot from skipper Dean Cracknell, the ball looked to be heading for goal but struck the post and out, the ball hit Drew Broughton who was in an offside position and ended up in the net only to be ruled out for offside.
The visitors remained on top and in the 25th minute they opened the scoring with a fine header from Jamie Slabber. The goal came fro a second corner kick, as the ball came towards the near post Slabber’s run beat the defence and his head got to the ball just before the keepers hands and the ball sailed into the far corner of the net.
HT 0-1
Thurrock had a chance to get back on level terms in the 57th minute when they were awarded a penalty after Alex Osborn was tripped inside the penalty area.
Glenn Poole came forward to take the spot kick, firing a low shot the keepers right but Jack Dovey was more equal to it and pushed the ball around the post for a corner.
Thurrock started to play the ball around with more confidence and on 64 minutes they did get back on even terms. A corner from the right found the head of Drew Broughton, his header was partially saved by Dovey but the ball crept out of his grasp and rolled over the goal line.
It looked like Thurrock would hold on for a point until the 88th minute when a long range shot from Graeme Montgomery was well saved by keeper Hughes only for the keeper to drop the ball and watch as it rolled into the back of the net.
Ith Thurrocks heads down another attack from Eastleigh saw the Thurrock defence rooted to the floor as Jamie Slabber neatly headed over Hughes for his second in the ninetieth minute.
The final whistle signalled another Thurrock defeat which keeps them firmly in the relegation zone.
Thurrock : David Hughes, Adam Gemeli, Callum Davies, Reece Morgan, James White, Paul Terry, Glenn Poole, Dean Cracknell, Alex Osborn, , Drew Broughton, Steve Ferguson.
Subs:, Keiran Walsh, Craig Holloway, Bertie Brayley, Loui Hazelwood, Rikki Burbridge
