THIS WAS not a classic derby but both teams worked hard as Thurrock came from behind to hold East Thurrock 1-1 in the FA Trophy at Rookery Hill.
In the early stages, Thurrock found it difficult to get a toe hold in the game as the Rocks marshalled them easily.
POLICE are investigating an allegation of hate crime after it was alleged that a black Potters Bar Town footballer with hearing and speech difficulties was abused by Grays Athletic fans. Herts Constabulary were called at 9.30pm on Tuesday night to the ground at Watkins Rise as the Ryman Division One North match was drawing to a close.
EAST THURROCK played their part in a FA Cup classic as they went down on penalties to Conference South outfit, Chelmsford City at Rookery Hill.
The Rocks came out like a rocket. From the kick off, Kye Ruel got into a good position on the left, nudged the ball to Sam Higgins whose shot danced across the line. The ball was retrieved back, the Clarets failed to clear and Sam Higgins six yards out banged the ball home.
GOALS from Jack West and Harry Agombar secured a 2-0 win at previously unbeaten Potters Bar Town, and saw Blues climb to the top of the league table. Going into the match in fourth place, and two places behind The Scholars, the team knew that a win would see them top come the end of the evening.
AVELEY moved up to third in the Ryman North table with a 4-1 home victory over Sudbury.(Monday). They took the lead through Paul Burnett in the eighth minute but Leon Antoine's glancing header from a corner quickly levelled the scores.
TILBURY suffered a second successive league defeat against a pacey Heybridge Swifts side on Saturday. Paul Vaughan made two changes from the midweek penalty shoot out success, captain Gary Henty and Tom Wraight replacing Danny Smith and Aaron Matthews.
The lead lasted only four minutes of the second half as a flick-on allowed Tom Murphy to run through and blast pasted Will Viner in the home side’s goal. The rest of the game saw Margate on top of the play but Thurrock create the better chances as Leroy Griffiths sliced wide from 8 yards out, followed by two chances in the last ten minutes where Charlie Stimson shot at Holloway and Sam Berry’s volley was well turned over by Holloway.
THE preliminary round of the Ted Fairchild All League Cup saw Deportivo Thurrock take on Busolona at the Springhouse, Corringham on Sunday, with a prestige 1st round tie against Essex Cup champions United Ockendon on the cards for the victor.
ABOVE anything else, being down at the East Thurrock United clubhouse for the FA Cup draw on ITV for the second year in a row, says something for the status and ambition of the club. There were cheers when the name of Colchester United came out of the hat for the fixture next month.
AVELEY extended their winning run to five matches after dispatching bottom of the table Ware 4-1 at Wodson Park. After a slow start to the match, the away side shifted up a gear and opened the scoring just before the quarter hour mark when Junior Dadson riffled a shot into the roof of the net to send the Millers into the break with a 1-0 lead.
BLUES made it three league wins on the spin, and a first win at home since mid-September with an excellent second half performance against Harlow Town Manager, Hakan Hayrettin made one change from last weekend’s narrow win at Tilbury, with Joe Sweeney coming in for the suspended Jake Hall.
A 98th minute equaliser sees the Rocks into the hat for the First Round draw. A solid point as the Fleet revival continues.Another great performance by the Blues as they march on.
EAST THURROCK snatched a dramatic 98th equaliser to force a draw and put their names in the 1st round hat with a 2-2 draw against Chelmsford City at the Melbourne Stadium. Chelmsford won the first corner of the game but the nicely flighted ball managed to evade every head in the box.
THIS was a case of biter bit for Rocks who conceded a two goal lead late in the game. In midweek the Rocks had battled back to overcome a two goal deficit themselves at Enfield and then went on to win the game with a later winner. They avoided a complete reversal at Imber Court, holding on to a point in a frantic last few minutes but will feel disappointed that they didn’t convert first half dominance into a bigger lead.
AVELEY BOSS Justin Gardener tied the knot and his team Aveley tied Brentwood in knots as the team made further progress up the league with a 3-0 victory against struggling Brentwood. Brentwood had been tipped as pre-season favourites to be promoted but have had a woeful start to the season.
