FITTINGLY, Scott who had pulled the strings all day closed the game out. Despite Richmond reclaiming their own kick off for the first time all day, T’s turned the ball over on their own 22 and attacked. Scott put Harvey into space and got the ball back at full pace on the halfway line. Evading 3 would be tacklers, she touched down under the posts for try number 11 and then kicked her 7th conversion for a personal points tally of 19 and unsurprisingly was awarded Back of the Match.
PETRIT Elbi’s 94th minute equaliser capped off an astonishing game of football at Mill Field that had everything. Aveley boss Justin Gardner described the 3-3 draw with Cheshunt as “like a victory” after he saw his side come from behind on three separate occasions to secure a point.
GRAYS ATHLETIC'S wretched run of form continued as they were dumped out of the FA Trophy 5-1 by Bury Town at Ram Meadow.
Goals by Billy Clark (2), Adam Bailey-Dennis, Ryan Semple and Shane Tolley gave Grays a wretched day in Suffolk. The first goal came from a penalty after Ian Gayle was judged to have handled in the box. Joao Carlos equalised with a lovely individual effort and for a time it looked as if Grays were going to be competitive.
IT was the referee who made the first impact in the game with his continuous whistle which resulted in three Thurrock players booked in the first twenty minutes.
The football only came alive in the last ten minutes of the half first when Thurrock conceded a free kick on the edge of their own penalty box. The kick was blocked by the defensive wall but sent back into the danger area where there was a scramble for the ball which eventually fell to Spencer Harrison who drove it high into the top of the net.
TILBURY started strongly and should have been in front inside the first 12 seconds when Ashton hit wide from a Daniel cross. Minutes later Cutler volleyed over as Tilbury laid siege on Madden's goal. Tilbury went in front on 10 when a stray back pass by Gilbert found Donovan Simmonds on his debut, which saw him brought down in the box by Madden and the referee pointed to the spot. Ware appealed that there was no contact, but the referee was in no doubt.
THE Rocks made a great comeback from 2-0 down to book a place in the first round proper. Grays were overwhelmed by Bury and now face a long winter on a poor run of form. Millermen entertained but in the end will see this as two points dropped.
THE ROCKS staged a great comeback to come from 2-0 down to beat Merthyr Town 4-2 in the FA Trophy. The Rocks soon got into their stride as they looked determined to take a grip of the game. But early on they missed two golden opportunities. The Merthyr keeper Cutlan made two mistakes but on both occasions, Rocks strikers insisted on taking a touch and with that lost the chance.
Another defeat for the Rocks. Three points off the relegation zone and will have to be careful. Another step back for Aveley, whose season continues to stutter.
JUNIOR Appiah’s outrageous lob from close to the half way line was all that separated the Millers and Erith & Belvedere as Aveley climb to fourth. Appiah’s goal gave Justin Gardner’s side a well-deserved two goal lead, building on Rashid Kamara’s delightful curling effort just five minutes into the second half.
AFTER the break the visitors who coped better with the wind, dominated the game and this was due to the introduction of the dangerous McKenzie and it was the same player who levelled when he fired home midway through the half past Ramos. Tilbury made substitutions looking for the win, but it was McKenzie again on 85 who had a good effort. A minute later it took a wonderful Chico Ramos save to deny another substitute Lee Scott to score the winner.
THE AVELEY Tornadoes have received a boost after being sponsored by a local firm.
A spokesperson said: "We were really pleased and grateful to receive...
AN OWN goal just before half time earned Grays Athletic a passage to the next round of the FA Trophy. Enfield Town have been struggling this year and are in the relegation zone in the league. Grays Ath, having shipped a larger number of goals in October as well as two of their central defenders, were keen to keep a clean sheet and under the tutelage of player manager Ryan Kirby managed to do this at Donkey Lane.
WITH the game in possible doubt a final pitch inspection announced the match on and the boggy conditions were always going to make it tough for Thurrocks passing style but they coped well. The Fleet created numerous chances first half and bossed the opening exchanges with Knight and Stimson looking sharp up front. Midway through the first half Thurrock lost defender Rob Gilman to injury and he was replaced by young Connor Martin. The opening goal came late on in the first half and it was Redbridge who took the lead.
