EAST Thurrock surrendered a 3-0 lead at home to Cheshunt on Tuesday — and with it their place at the top of the Ryman Division One North table.

But no one could have foretold the late drama that would unfold as Rocks raced into a two-goal lead inside the first ten minutes.

The first came when Jimmy Webb’s cross found Kris Newby and he smashed the ball into the roof of the net.

Newby added his second four minutes later when he raced onto a poor back pass and skipped around keeper Joe Wright before rolling it into the net.

And when Newby completed his hat-trick from the penalty spot two minutes after the break it seemed certain Rocks would claim their eighth consecutive win.

Rocks had conceded just one league goal at home this season — Tom Stephen’s consolation strike for Redbridge — so there was nothing to suggest the abject collapse by their defence in the last 34 minutes of this game.

Cheshunt’s Darrell Cox began the fightback with his strike on 56 minutes, and then doubled his tally seven minutes from time.

Then in the 90th minute, Iain Salt popped up with an equaliser to send the travelling fans into raptures and leave the Rookery Hill faithful wondering where it had all gone wrong.

Rocks boss John Coventry said: “We basically stopped doing the things that had put us 3-0 up and it turned into a battle — and they won the battle. So fair play to them. And if it had gone on another five minutes they might have even won.

“The only positive is it keeps our unbeaten run going and we’ll use this as a wake-up call. I will be looking for a good response in the coming weeks.”

Elsewhere in he division, it was another disappointing night for TILBURY as they went down 2-1 at home to Wingate & Finchley.

This visitors took a first-half lead before Etienne Clarke levelled for the Dockers on 74 minutes with an excellent solo effort.

But Wingate headed the winner on 60 minutes, and the hosts misery was completed ten minutes later when Chris Manangu was shown a straight red for diving with both feet on a Wingate defender.

GREAT WAKERING slipped to a disappointing 1-0 defeat at home to Romford.

Both defences dominated proceedings and the match was settled by Joe Pearman’s strike in the 77th minute.

Billy Johnson, Bradley Walsh, Dan Trenkel and Luca Frankis went close for Rovers, while Billy Johnson forced a good save out of Romford keeper Adam Rafis.

GRAYS went down 2-0 at Enfield Town and finished the game with ten men after Marvin Samuel was sent off for a challenge on Sam Byfield.

Rudi Hall put Enfield ahead in the 17th minute with a penalty before Grays saw Samuel depart.

And the hosts doubled their advantage when Athletic keeper Nick Wilson punched the ball to Fabio Valenti, who scored after Byfield’s initial effort had been blocked.