Ryman Premier
Enfield Town 0 v 2 East Thurrock United
EAST Thurrock manager John Coventry was proud and pleased as his team fought a backs-to-the-wall rearguard action at Enfield on Tuesday night, claiming victory thanks to Sam Higgins’ 20th goal of the season and a last minute effort from man of the match Reece Harris.
“I think that gave me as much pleasure as any win I can remember,” said Coventry whose small squad was depleted by injury, illness, unavailability and childbirth! He was forced to throw 17-year-old Joe Paxman into the starting line-up and then pitched Darren Phillips, just turned 16, into the final third of the game after Lewis Smith was forced off because of a stomach bug.
The same illness had ruled David Bryant out, Mitchell Gilbey was on holiday, Manny Osei sidelined by injury and Ryan Sammons because his wife was giving birth to their first child! And, aside from Smith, combative midfielder Connor Witherspoon hobbled out of the match with a torn muscle.
So amid the apparent wreckage of his squad, Coventry was able to reflect on a performance of real guts. It was a combination of team effort and individual brilliance, with Harris the night’s outstanding performer.
“There were so many pleasing things about the performance, I am really delighted. The lads showed terrific commitment. It was something of a smash and grab victory but in the circumstances we are delighted to get a result. There were some outstanding individual performance, in particular David Hughes in goal, centrebacks Ben Wood and Paul Goodacre and, of course, Reece Harris who thoroughly deserved to cap his display with a goal, but everyone in the squad deserves tremendous credit. It was a very enjoyable result and I am so proud of the way we stuck in there and got it,” said Coventry whose side are unbeaten in the league since going down at Witham on 23 September.
A win for the visitors looked unlikely in the opening stages as Enfield laid siege to their goal. Towners’ captain Mark Kirby spurned a great early chance, heading over the bar with the goal gaping and then Hughes saved an effort from Nathan Living.
The play was largely at one end but Harris showed his ability with one surging run that brought a caution for Joe Stevens for a poor challenge – one of a number that Harris was to feel during the evening.
The ball was buzzing around the East Thurrock box for the most part though, but Enfield couldn’t create a clear cut opening and paid the penalty for not converting the pressure into a goal when Harris raced through on the right and delivered a fine cross that looped over keeper Nathan MacDonald and Higgins bundled it home from close range.
Enfield were quickly back on the attack, but either missed the target, were crowded out by a hard-working defence or denied by Hughes, who produced the save of the night just before the break, flinging himself to push a fierce low drive from Jamie Smyth in the closing minutes of the half.
On the resumption it was largely the same story but Rocks were composed in their defending and also looked sharp on the break, winning several corners as well as a couple of half chances which included a close range shot from Smith that was drilled just inches past the upright after more good work by Hughes.
Smith left the action soon after, giving Phillips his debut in senior football and the youngster didn’t let himself down with some neat touches and some determined challenges that showed he was not at all overawed by his elevation from Rocks’ U16 side!
Enfield’s football became more direct and more ragged as the game wore on. Their frustration was encapsulated in some tough tackles and they were perhaps lucky not to pick up more than two more yellow cards. Rocks also got one, for Paxman who showed he wasn’t afraid of putting himself in the middle of where the bullets were flying.
With ref Barry Holderness having signalled fur minutes of added time, Rocks eased the pressure of the final moments when Harris broke away and beat McDonald as the keeper made a hash of leaving his box to deal a through ball. Two defenders did get back between Harris and the goal but he picked his spot calmly to complete a stunning individual night’s work and round off a superb – and pride-inspiring – performance for the Rocks.
