Ryman Premier
East Thurrock United 1 v 2 Needham Market
TWO blunders in added time at the end of each half decided Tuesday’s Ryman Premier clash at Rookery Hill, played out in fearsome gale that lashed the pitch from end to end.
In truth, the elements made this a match of comedy football but Rocks boss John Coventry didn’t see the funny side and cut a disconsolate figure as his side’s six match run came to an anti-climactic end.
Rocks had started November with an impressive 3-1 win at Needham’s Bloomfields ground but the boot was on the other foot in this speedy return, though East Thurrock will feel this was a potential win they let slip from their grasp.
With the howling wind at their backs in the first half Needham pushed Rocks back and the elements played a huge part in proceedings. The first significant chance of the match came early on when the ball skewed off Rickie Hayles’ boot towards keeper Lukas Lidakevicius who dived to paw the ball away from his goal and was adjudged by ref Garrry Maskell to have handled a back pass. Any controversy was avoided when the indirect free-kick was blazed over the bar and soon after Needham striker Michael Brothers lifted another drive into the night sky.
It was difficult for Rocks to clear their lines and Lidakevicius was kept busy, tipping a drive from Darryl Coakley over the woodwork.
Rocks did fashion the odd chance and from one move ended with Tom Wraight flashing the ball across the face of goal, inches away from the boot of Lewis Smith. Smith, Rocks’ top scorer was at his enigmatic worst in this match, hogging the ball and opting for the difficult option when simplicity was the key though, after his opposite number Jay Davies had thumped a long rang shot just over the bar at the other end, Smith went close with a strike at goal.
The last word of the half was to be with Needham though. Rocks thought they had weathered the storm and were counting down the added seconds of the first half when Brothers scooped a half miss-hit effort goalwards from wide on the right. It was probably a cross rather than a shot but the wind grabbed the ball and Lidakevicius completely misjudged the flight and fumbled the ball into the back of the net.
It was an unfortunate end to the half for Rocks but with the wind behind them in the second half, they remained favourites – and 11 minutes into the second half they were on level terms when their sustained pressure saw Harry Honesty drive a low ball into the box. It was going wide but the confusion and panic caused by the win prompted Oliver Brown to stab a foot at the ball and he steered it into his own net.
At that point it was odds on a Rocks victory but the home side lacked the composure to play the advantage that the wind was giving them. They were shapeless, rushed and lacked a plan – while Needham actually looked the better side with limited possession and looked threatening whenever they surged forward – often after Rocks had fluffed possession.
Lidakevicius made amends for his earlier error with a fine save to deny Brothers before, with 10 minutes remaining, Rocks sub Tom Anderson had a great chance to score but forced a header wide when it seemed easier to hit the target.
Even so, it still seemed only a matter of time before Rocks would find a winner but visiting keeper Daniel Gay pulled two instinctive saves out of the bag, the first at point blank range from Wraight and then he dived to push Smith’s strike away.
It seemed the sides would end on even terms but with six minutes of added time having passed, Needham broke again with Hayles stumbling under what might well have been a foul and the ball was chased down and delivered into the box where Ashley Miller, under no pressure, turned it into his own net.
