Ryman Premier
East Thurrock United 1 v 0 Canvey Island
EAST Thurrock produced a battling display and rode what luck there was going to record a second successive single goal Ryman Premier win on Tuesday.
The game’s decisive moment came in the last minute of the first half when David Bryant cut inside and drilled the ball past keeper Danzelle St Louis-Hamilton and inside his near post.
After that the visiting Gulls dominated possession but were unable to force an equaliser.
Throughout the game home stopper David Hughes had just one direct save to make, early in the game when he blocked John Sands’ close range angled drive but he was left stranded twice in the second half, when a deflected, looping shot from Sands came back off his crossbar and then when it seemed Jay Curran was certain to score but the Canvey captain lashed his close range shot wide of the upright when it seemed easier to score.
Things were fairly even in the first half, with clear cut openings few and far between in a fast-paced match. The home side suffered an early blow when Ross Parmenter limped out of the action with a pulled calf muscle, but Rocks had a ready-made replacement in tough midfielder Nicky Symonds who had recovered from the kidney problems that sidelined him on Saturday when East Thurrock pulled off a 1-0 derby win against AFC Hornchurch.
Referee Stuart Cheek won few fans among the visitors who believed Rocks were guilty of some cynicism as they battled to defend their lines but in truth the official got most things right and allowed the game to flow.
It looked as if the sides would be deadlocked at the break but just before the half time whistle Bryant produced his moment of magic.
Canvey came out in determined fashion and pushed Rocks back from the start of the second half. Home attacks were few and far between and from one of them they suffered another blow when striker Manny Osei came off worst in a collision with St Louis-Hamilton and has to be stretchered off.
That brought on pacey wide man Javlon Campbell whose speed was a useful outlet as Rocks cleared their lines, though he was one of four home players booked when he raced away near the end and shot past the visiting keeper long after Mr Cheek had blown.
The intervening woodwork and Curran’s miss apart, East Thurrock showed great resilience in defence, with central pairing Ben Wood and Simon Peddie outstanding but it was the whole team ethic that earned Rocks the victory.
Everybody contributed, while Canvey were unable to find the key to combat the home side’s unity and finished the game frustrated, while Rocks celebrated two outstanding derby results.
Rocks boss John Coventry said: “This was a second tremendous effort by my players and I am very proud of all of them.
“We have showed a great work ethic, togetherness and spirit which, when you have a squad like ours, is what it is all about.
“We now have a blow because of the injuries picked up by Ross and Manny, which will impact on our small squad, but those who come into the starting line-up will certainly not lack commitmentand we will do our best to build on this great start.”
