For Grays it was a day to forget. After all the good work against Wingate and Finchley, they never really got going. Or should we say that the front pair never looked like scoring in a month of sundays. Ishmael Welsh tore down the left wing, Dean Pennant was solid in the middle and the defence bar a very erratic Brad Thomas were rarely troubled early on but it was the barn door brothers up front who frustrated every Grays fan and especially Julian Dicks as time after time they fluffed their chances.
Two disastrous defeats in as many days must leave the Fleet management wondering were the “Happy” is in Happy New Year. With three changes made from Saturday’s line up, Thurrock were out to put that result behind them, they started brightly and looked to be regaining some pride and passion and when David Knight put them in front after 15 minutes the signs looked good.
Thurrock plunge back into the relegation zone as they are hit for six at the Melbourne Stadium in Chelmsford. A disappointed Greg Lincoln declined to be interviewed or comment after the game. He now needs to motivate his squad when Dover and BBC Football Focus come to visit Ship Lane on Monday for there next league match.
Moments later, after another scramble, Michael Filetti cleared Steve Sheehan header off the line but when the same player got a header from a Joe Keith corner on 16 minutes there was no escape as the ball bounced into the net for the opener.
WITH December, wiped out, the fixtures secretaries for the five teams in the borough have been busy recalibrating the next two months worth of fixtures. 2011 kicks off with East Thurrock v Waltham Forest on New Years Day. There follows another 39 games for the five teams in the borough and of course that is dependent on the weather not kicking in again.
CARL Griffiths has been the manager of Aveley for two months but due to the terrible weather, has hardly had any games. Wednesday's friendly was a good opportunity to give his charges ninety minutes and then assess what is needed.
A solitary goal on 36 minutes by Aveley striker Stanley Sherwin separated the teams when the Thurrock defence failed to clear at the third attempt allowing Sherwin to blast the ball home from close range.
THE EAGERLY awaited local derby has been called off due to a frozen pitch. Pitch inspections for Hornchurch v Aveley and Brentwood v Tilbury will take place at noon.
But one betting source told The Independent in August that: "Of course the Grays game was fixed, but the Gambling Commission lack the skill to prosecute. And the police aren't particularly interested in taking the cases on because they often relate to small events and are relatively small amounts of cash. The Daily Mail reported yesterday:" Enforcement sources claim the Grays game was passed over by police because they were too busy with crime and terrorism."
Despite the best efforts of Chairman Tommy South and the team down at Ship Lane, Blue Square Bet South fixture, Thurrock v Chelmsford City has been postponed due to a frozen pitch. With no real sign of a let up in the cold weather, clubs are now concerned at not only the fixture pile up but also the financial implications of the cancellations.
While across at East Thurrock, the Rocks team have once again been attempting to replicate the herculean effort that saw the pitch prepared for a key fixture against Potters Bar that saw them leap to the top of the table. Secretary, Neil Speight said: "Once again, we have done all we can. The pitch is in good condition. The only thing that could be against us is a frost."
THE PITCH may be snowbound but Thurrock-based West Ham Ladies are still training hard indoors. YourThurrock's Bill Robinson went down to training to see if the ladies were in festive mood.
WHERE did West Ham sign Ray Stewart from? Which player was top scorer in the 1990-91 season? How many goals did Geoff Hurst score for England?These are just a sample of the thousands of questions that author Chris Cowlin has compiled for the West Ham United Quiz Book.
