WITH the chasing pack gaining ground it was vital that Millers got the maximum result from this Ryman One clash and though it was a poor game, manager Justin Gardner’s players delivered. However, it wasn’t without a worry or two as Aveley got off to the worst possible start when Joel Palmer opened the scoring for the visitors in the third minute.
TILBURY went down by a single goal to play off hopefuls Thamesmead Town on Saturday. Manager Paul Vaughan again rang the changes with games continuing to flow. He made seven changes from the 1-1 draw in midweek at AFC Sudbury.
On a good playing suffice in front of Thamesmead's new impressive stand, the game started quietly with Baff Addae having some good early runs, but being dealt with well by Ryan Blackman. Tilbury had a chance on 11 when a scramble in the box fell to Danny Francis who stabbed wide. 6 minutes later a Sam Cutler corner found the head of Ben Crooks who headed just over the top.
EAST Thurrock manager John Coventry continues to play down his side’s chances of reaching the Ryman Premier play-offs, but the Rocks are edging ever closer to the end-of-season excitement zone on the back of a sustained run of positive results. There was an even, if low key start to this derby, though Rocks came close to breaking the deadlock in the fifth minute when Adrian Clifton rose to head goalwards but his effort was blocked reports the Thurrock Enquirer.
TWO wins and six points in three days for Thurrock brings some relief to their relegation worries, in what was billed as a must win game, still a long way to go but the signs are looking better. A poor first half in which neither team deserved to be in front, Thurrock playing 4-5-1, still having a lot of possession but not able to break down the Cray defence to test their keeper.
Still so many fascinating permutations as East Thurrock still have play-off hopes. Thurrock produce a marvellous second away win three days. Grays Ath produce their fifteenth win in a row and Aveley come from behind to remain in a play off place.
GRAYS Athletic continued their inexorable rise to the Ryman Premier with a calm, coll and collected fifteenth win in a row at the Cricklefields Stadium. Grays started sharply with Lee Flynn sending in a sharp free kick that was well defended by the Ilford defence. Flynn fired another free kick in the 6th minute. Woeful Ilford defending saw Jeff Hammond pounce to scuff the ball home from close range.
GRAYS Athletic boss Hakan Hayrettin's performance in guiding his team to the top of the Ryman One North table on the back of 14 successive victories has seen him awarded the division's manager of the month. And East Thurrock United's John Coventry, whose Rocks side won four and drew two of their six matches in March wins the honour in the Premier Division.
TILBURY were beaten by a direct but effective Romford side, with a late goal on a chilly, windy, but sunny afternoon at Chadfields. Manager Paul Vaughan made three changes to the line up from Saturday's win at Chatham with Dean Driscoll, Ben Crooks and Danny Francis replacing James Marrable, Conor Mead and Tony Jacobs.
EAST Thurrock's recent run of form continued with this Ryman Premier derby success at Ship Lane, where John Coventry's side dominated almost from start to finish. There was a brief early flourish from Thurrock when the ball was played into the box and centre forward Terry Dixon homed in on the ball as keeper Elliot Justham hesitated but the ball drifted across him and out of play when any sort of touch would probably have been a goal.
IT was not pretty but it was pretty effective for Grays Athletic as they registered their fourteenth win in a row in a scrappy 3-1 win against Aveley at Rush Green Stadium. The game gave Kris Newby his first start for the Blues and he began it with a number of robust challenges that underlined his appetite for the game.
A 92nd minute Tyrus Gordon-Young equaliser prevented Aveley from making it third time lucky against fellow play-off hopefuls Thamesmead Town. Justin Gardner felt the draw was a fair result at full time, but in truth it would have been harsh on the visitors if they would have come away from Mill Field without anything to show for their efforts after dominating the first half, hitting the bar and having two cleared off the line.
TILBURY scored an injury time winner to come away from Chatham Town with a deserved 2-1 victory. The game was never in doubt despite a heavy snow blizzard prior to kick off. With games coming thick and fast, manager Paul Vaughan made 2 changes to the line up with Rimmel Daniel and Tom Wraight returning to the side in place of Aaron Waters and Danny Francis.
A TWELFTH win in a row saw Grays Athletic extend their lead at the top of the league and see them just four wins from promotion. Grays started brightly in the cold spring sunshine as befitted a team that has won eleven games in a row.
THURROCK gave promotion-chasing Margate a tough test at Hartsdown but ultimately fell short and remain very much enmeshed in the Ryman Premier relegation dogfight. A disappointing visit to the Kent coast for Thurrock this afternoon, chasing as many points as possible The visitors started the brighter and had the better parts of the first half, though keeper David Hughes had to rescue them in the 30th minute with a double save from Ryan Dolby when he had the goal at his mercy.
A SUPERB Sam Higgins volley gave East Thurrock three points with a 2-0 victory against promotion-chasing Canvey Island. Canvey exploded into action in the third minute with a beautiful through ball that found Bradley Woods-Garness but his shot was weak.
