Ryman Premier
East Thurrock 1 v 3 Harrow Borough
THE ROCKS had a second half disaster as they let a 1-0 lead turn into a 3-1 defeat against Harrow Borough.
The Rocks started in very positive fashion. In the 4th minute, Mitchell Gilbey latched onto a long ball but the Boro’ keeper came out quickly.
David Bryant found acres of space on the right hand side and gave Boro countless headaches with his jinking play.
Lewis Smith dominated the early stages as he distributed from deep as well as getting into advanced positions.
In the 17th minute, Mitchell Gilbey showed some lovely touches as he dribbled on the edge of the box before shooting just wide.
Harrow were a well-drilled team who The Rocks found very hard to break down.
The Rocks displayed some of the best touch play they have shown in a long time but in many ways flattered to deceive.
The deadlock was broken in the 41st minute when a number of passes led to Mitchell Gilbey who curled the ball from the edge of the box into the back of the net.
The Rocks continued where they left off when the second half began but out of nowhere, Borough equalised in the 51st minute as Spencer Belotti broke free of his marker to blast home from close range.
They nearly made it 2-1 when a Daniel May free kick was deflected. Rocks keeper, David Hughes did well to tip the ball over the bar.
Things got worse for the Rocks when defender Michael Peacock headed in from close range to put the Boro in the lead.
East Thurrock didn’t really have a plan B. They still had traces of their nice passing play but the team lacked edge. Sam Higgins looked like he was short of match sharpness.
To add insult to injury, Harrow made it 3-1 when Steven Butterworth’s free kick managed to find its way past the Rocks wall and under the keeper.
East Thurrock United: Hughes D, Witherspoon C, Stephen T, Peddie S, Wood B, Symons N, Bryant D, Gilbey M, Higgins S, Smith L, Harris R
Subs not used: Vezza A, Sammons R, Parmenter R. Boswell R
Ref: L Crowhurst
Att; 141
