But that all changed in the 70th minute when a clumsy challenge in the area saw the Maldon defender receive a red card and Danny Bunce score from the spot. This looked like the story of Maldon's season so far and took the stuffing out of them. Grays were transformed and played with a lot more verve.
TWO OF Thurrock's emerging stars have bee nominated for BBC Essex young sports person of the year.
Joshua Olaware from Ormiston Park Academy and Michael...
TONIGHT'S Essex Senior Cup fixture between East Thurrock United and Tilbury has been postponed. A boiler malfunction is the cause. All things being equal, the game will be played next week.
Tilbury came out with some urgency and early in the second half, Marrable sent a long punt up the pitch which found Read who volleyed first time at the keeper. On 63 and Webb's final action of the game, hit just over the top.
East Thurrock were ball no 67 and the excitement was palpable. The atmosphere rose when a big ticket team came out of the "hat" and then oohs of disappointment when another team landed that plum tie. There were also a few teams that they did not want and again, a sense of relief when they avoided them.
The visitors remained on top and in the 25th minute they opened the scoring with a fine header from Jamie Slabber. The goal came fro a second corner kick, as the ball came towards the near post Slabber’s run beat the defence and his head got to the ball just before the keepers hands and the ball sailed into the far corner of the net.
After the game Rocks boss, John Coventry said: “Obviously they were a good side and at times we came under pressure and we had to ride our luck at times but teams that do ride their luck at one end have to take advantage at the other and we did.
Against Thamesmead, the presence of Jean-Michel Sigere means that all the fluency and momentum is lost and so Beaney and Agombar could not influence the game the way they did earlier in the week. Uneventful first twenty minutes apart from the enforced substitution of Junior Baker after a nasty wound that ended up with 46 stitches.
Ninety minutes from history for East Thurrock Utd. Covo will have the boys ready as they travel off to the coast. Boro are tenth in the Conference South but we feel the Rocks will fancy this one but if they give this team a lead they may not get back. The Thurrock team will be keen to get back to football after the Mark Wright hype. Only eighteen months ago, they were beating Eastleigh 8-2. What went wrong?
IF THERE WAS ever a game that proved Grays credentials as promotion candidates then this was it. It wasn't winning ugly, it was far from it. In slippery conditions, this wasn't easy but teams managed to play with a fair degree of skill and accuracy.
THERE WILL definitely be 'no carbs 'til Marbs" as TOWIE star, Mark Wright has signed for Blue Square Bet South outfit Thurrock. They may be in the relegation zone but Mark is set to make his debut tomorrow night as the Fleet take on high-flying neighbours Dartford.
The 2001 winners will visit Rookery Hill on Saturday 5th November to face the Blues in a competitive fixture for the first time since December 2008, when they defeated Grays 3-2 (aet) in the Essex Senior Cup 4th Round. Canvey beat Hendon 4-0 on Saturday to earn their place in the next round, whilst the Blues dispatched Whyteleafe 3-0 at Church Road. East Thurrock face a replay at Bedford Town tomorrow night (Tuesday) at 7.45pm.
With 15 minutes to go, substitute Harry Cook’s free kick was hit wide by Nightingill and with a couple of minutes remaining, Sam West’s thumping shot brought off an excellent on handed save by Madden. With Ware pushing hard for an equaliser, the home side and their supporters were pleased to hear the final whistle.
The equaliser came on 52 minutes when Greg Cohen unleashed a superb long pass from deep into his own half that set Higgins free and the striker showed all his finishing prowess to lob the ball over the onrushing Brown.
