TOMORROW will see one of the most exciting fixtures of the Ryman Division One North season as league leaders East Thurrock United take on the team in second place, Needham Market.
Match of the day in the league. Can Covo's men make it thirteen victories in a row? Needham believe they will score one more than you. Covo thinks otherwise.
Since that game, Grays have looked like a different team, playing with a rhythm and confidence that had been missing. The settled side has been a huge factor. Bradley Thomas has an assurance about him, Eljay Worrell is a very solid right back and Junior Baker is a leader among men. Having said all that, Grays gifted two goals last night; one in the 15th minute as keeper Stephen Northwood kicked the ball straight out to Needham's James Evans, who swept down the right, crossed to Sam Newsom who tucked the ball away for the first goal of the evening.
Max Cornhill forced a Kris Newby cross past Sudbury's besnooded keeper Nicky Eyre after 18 minutes and Newby effectively settled the game with two superb goals in the last eight minutes of the first half. They took his league tally to 17, second only to Leatherhead's Greg Andrews on 21, and he now has a real chance of following Martin Tuohy and Sam Higgins to become the third successive East Thurrock man to capture the award for the league's top scorer.
Truth is, Market may lose more points once the fall-out from Leyton's departure from the league becomes clear but the truth is that with East Thurrock thirteen points ahead of third place, this is, probably a two-horse race.
Many fans turning up to the Grays Ath v Maldon and Tiptree fixture on January 8th at Rookery Hill were surprised to see two van-loads full of riot-trained police officers plus strategically positioned vehicles around the Corringham area. The tactical deployment was repeated at Barrows Farm, Harlow yesterday (Saturday) for the Ryman Division One North fixture. Outside the ground a large police van was joined by a further two vehicles as a dozen officers patrolled outside the ground.
Despite the heavy pitch and long grass, it was the pace of the Aveley attackers that caused a headache for Horsham. Had they had their radar on properly, it could have been even better for the Millermen.
Another determined and solid performance gave Thurrock their first back to back league wins since October 2009. The new management team at Ship Lane have transformed the players and the belief in themselves which has seen them move out of the relegation places. It’s too early to say they are safe but the signs are more promising.
Ruel had the chance to finish the match off for Rocks with three minutes to go but scooped the ball wide of Goodwin Green and the post. Deep in added time he had another chance to finish things off, but was again wide of the target but it didn’t matter as the final whistle went soon after to secure Rocks’ eleventh successive league win.
GRAYS ATH dug deep, held firm, showed consistency and took a well deserved three points away from Barrows Farm with a 2-1 victory. Boss Julian Dick's was very frustrated after the draws at Wingate and Maldon and for a long time it looked like Grays might be frustrated again. With difficult conditions to combat again, the first half was littered with unforced errors.
Six points in two games for a resurgent Thurrock while great victories for Grays, East Thurrock and Aveley make for a night of celebration in the borough.
RYMAN Premier hosts Billericay made just one change from their weekend clash with Kingstonian while their Division One North rivals opted for five amendments to their starting line-up and a couple of youngsters on the bench for Tuesday’s Essex Senior Cup tie reports the Essex Enquirer. And, on a muddy but just-about playable pitch thanks to the hardworking Blues groundstaff, the experience and cohesion of the senior side saw them through.
Goals by Bobby Traynor and Matt Gray secured the three points for the Kingston Road outfit. Traynor scored following a goalmouth scramble while Gray drilled a shot into the back of the Aveley goal to finish Aveley off.
The athletes from William Edwards School & Sports College excelled themselves again on Tuesday 14th at Blackshot Park in the borough cross country championships winning 4 gold’s from the 6 available race categories. Both boys and girls teams ran superbly and in a display of grit and determination secured top spot retaining the overall borough championship title 2010.
