Isthmian Premier
East Thurrock United 3 v 2 Horsham
Report courtesy of East Thurrock United
https://www.eastthurrockunited.co.uk/teams/21433/match-centre/1-6360106/report
AN all round excellent, battling team performance earned Paul Martin’s young Rocks side their first league win of the current campaign.
Rocks had to dig deep at times, and Arthur Janata had to be at his very best in the East Thurrock goal, pulling off a number of excellent saves, but in the end it is difficult to deny that they fully deserved their victory.
Izzy Bademosi was unlucky early on, as his header came back off the bar, but Rocks weren’t to be denied, and for the first time this term, the Rocks scored the first goal of a game, as on 13 minutes Luke ILLSLEY headed in a corner at the near post. (pictured here by Mikey Cartwright).
The first of a number of top drawer saves by Janata came a minute later, as the former Leyton Orient keeper turned a Chris Smith piledriver round the post.
Horsham drew level on the half hour, Charlie Harris thundering home from just outside the box. Harris almost added a second on 40 minutes when his well struck free kick beat Janata but crashed against the crossbar.
It was the Rocks who were to go back in front just before half time when Zenon STYLIANIDES latched onto a through ball. Still with work to do, the former Spurs apprentice maintained his composure to produce a cool finish past visiting keeper Brad House.
Zenon was, like the rest of his Rocks lads, now playing with increased confidence, and eight minutes after the break a flowing move down the right flank, STYLIANIDES was there to tuck in Rocks third.
Harris looked really dangerous from free kicks as Horsham pressed. And after Arthur had done well to get down and save one rasper, on 64 minutes he did pull one back for the Sussex side, this time drilling in an unstoppable drive.
Stylianides looked set to complete his hat trick, when with fifteen minutes remaining, he cut in from the left, but fired just the wrong side of the upright, and into the side netting.
Despite a few hairy moments late on, Rocks overworked defence held out for three precious points.
ROCKS : Arthur Janata, Jon Nzengo, Jordan Peart (Callum Taylor 89), Mike Castle, Mike Agboola, Dan Cossington, Luke Illsley, Zenon Stylianides, Nebay Haile, Izzy Bademosi, Phil Brown-Bampoe. Subs : Ricky Brennan, Ben Jordan, Ayo Olukoga, Jordan Williams gk.
