Ryman Premier League
Thurrock 0 Concord Rangers 1
By Bill Robinson
IF THERE was ever a day when the phrase ‘It is only a game” was at its most resonant, then it was the day that Thurrock boss received news that Mitchell Cole, a player he had signed when he was manager of Grays Athletic in 2004 and then signed again, when he was Stevenage boss, had passed away at the age of 27.
But, Mark Stimson did what he has done for a long time now and went to work and went to a football match.
A first half that was evenly balanced, the football was flowing from end to end and very little being given away by either defence. Thurrock did create three chances for Charlie Stimson in the first twenty minutes but none where converted and at the interval it was all square.
The second half followed a similar pattern and the only goal of the game came just before the hour, a free kick to Concord some 25 yards from goal was floated over for the head of Nicky Cowley to place the ball into the far corner of the net.
Thurrock continued to hassle the Concord defence but could not find a way through and they remained solid for the full 90 minutes.
Man of The Match Awarded to Stuart Thurgood
Thurrock : David Hughes, Ritchie Jones, Beb Walster, Jack Jefferies, JohnGuest, Rhys Paul, Stuart Thurgood, , Ben Smith, Jack Paxman, Charlie Stimson, Harry Honesty.
Subs: Frank Griffin, Wil Viner, Mark Onyemah, Luke Wannadio, Sam Berry.
