Ryman Premier
East Thurrock United 4 v 4 Leatherhead
EAST THURROCK squandered a 3-0 goal league to draw 4-4 against Leatherhead at Rookery Hill
The ball pinged about early on as both teams took their time to find their feet.
The Rocks were very productive down the right hand side with David Bryant causing problems.
The first real chance came from Leatherhead with a fine shot form distance by Stacy Long.
A Rocks free kick in the 6th minute by Lewis Smith hit the left post.Smith was certainly being given room to roam by Leatherhead.
There was an interesting exchange of opinions between two members of the Surrey sides defence.
The Rock’s touch play was very good. James Walker should have done more when put through by Mitchell Gilbey.
But in the 26th minute, the Rock broke through when James Walker was upended in the box. Lewis Smith stroked the spot kick home.
Leatherhead threatened throughout the first half but often it flattered to deceive.
The footwork of Lewis Smith was worth the entrance fee alone and when he danced around the Head midfield the only way they could stop him was to concede a foul on the edge of that area.
And sure enough, Smith curled the ball around the wall and into the goal.
East Thurrock made it 3-0 in the 50th minute when Tom Anderson glanced a header into the goal.
But just a few minutes later, Richard Avery scored a screamer from 25 yards to get the Surrey team back in the game.
And it got worse for the Rocks when Leatherhead scored again on the hour when Jerry Nnamani rolled the ball over the line.
East Thurrock had totally surrendered the initiative in midfield and needed a plan B.
Leathered have beaten some good teams this year and they looked like they fancied this. And they were right as they equalised as easy as you like in the 73rd minute through Joshua Gallagher.
East Thurrock United; Lidakevicius L; Sammons R, Wraight T, Peddie S, Wood B, Anderson T, Bryant D (Honesty H 65), Craddock G, Walker J (Phillips D 65), Gilbey M, Smith L
Subs not used:Losada-Tobon A, Knott S, Ruel K
Leatherhead: Wells L, Mahal R, Green A, Smart M, Bruce J, Nnamani J, Avery R, Semakula P (Gallagher J 61), Walsh P, Long S, Hughes-Mason K
Subs not used: Nwokeji M, Barrett N, Nimmo J
Referee: Simon Finnigan
