Ryman Premier
Thurrock 0 v 2 East Thurrock
EAST Thurrock’s recent run of form continued with this Ryman Premier derby success at Ship Lane, where John Coventry’s side dominated almost from start to finish.
There was a brief early flourish from Thurrock when the ball was played into the box and centre forward Terry Dixon homed in on the ball as keeper Elliot Justham hesitated but the ball drifted across him and out of play when any sort of touch would probably have been a goal.
Rocks then took a grip and also the lead after seven minutes when a flowing move ended with Sam Higgins cutting the ball back from the by-line which eluded the dive of keeper David Hughes and David Bryant arrived at the end of a perfectly timed run to smash the ball into the roof of the net, though Hughes was convinced Higgins had run the ball over the line before crossing.
Thurrock offered little in response other than a shot from Tom Richardson which was blocked and deflected over the bar and then Danny Green’s long range effort was pushed over the crossbar by Justham.
Though it lacked an incisive finish most of the traffic was directed at Hughes’s goal, though the second goal didn’t come until the closing stages of the half when Tom Stephen drifted a corner towards the near post and it eluded everybody on its way into the net. Higgins raisd an arm to try and claim the goal but while his attempt at a header undoubtedly distracted defenders and Hughes, if he did get a touch it was the merest waft and it would have ben unjest to take the glory away from Stephen, who delightedly claimed his first goal of the season.
The match was played out in difficult, windy conditions and in the second half, with the wind at their backs, East Thurrock had lots more pressure, but were unable to find a third goal – though they were rarely troubled at the back.
the first goal was a foot over the line and should have been a goal kick for thurrock.