East Thurrock United 0-0 Lewes

From Rookery Hill

EAST Thurrock United played out an entertaining goalless draw against Lewes tonight.

The Rocks had to work hard for a point, with Lewes coming close to breaking the deadlock on a number of occasions although the best chance of the match arguably fell to Sam Higgins.

It didn’t take long for the home side to get into their rhythm. Some neat skill in the penalty area saw Mitchell Gilbey nip in ahead of the defender and go down under the challenge. The referee waved away the claims amidst huge appeals from the home fans, much to Gilbey’s frustration.

Lewes have struggled on the road this year but were creating chances. Striker Nathan Crabb looked particularly lively and should have done better with three headed chances – missing the target when only yards from David Hughes’ goal on two occasions and forcing the keeper into action on the third attempt.

The away side then began to take control of the match although it was proving to be a difficult night for Crabb. A deflected Jack Dixon shot crashed back off the crossbar, with Hughes perhaps getting a touch only for the loose ball to fall to Crabb, but he horribly skewed his header wide of the target.

Moments later Lewes were appealing for a goal after a goalmouth scramble saw skipper Gary Elphick appealing the loose ball had crossed the line, but again the referee was unmoved.

East Thurrock held out until the break but will consider themselves unlucky not to be ahead after Gilbey missed a great chance on the whistle. Neat interplay down the left saw Gilbey freed in the box but his shot was blocked by Sam Cole on the goal line and cleared.

Into the second half and Sam Higgins, who had had a quiet first half, threatened almost immediately. A good run from Lewis Smith saw Higgins released but the hotshot could only find the midriff of Rikki Banks.

Dixon and John Lewis had headed chances but both were straight into Hughes’ gloves.

Then came the best chance of the night – a swift counter-attack from Rocks saw David Bryant slide in Higgins and, to everyone’s surprise, he hit wide of the near post.

Lewes applied some late pressure, with Elphick coming close to prodding home a winner from a corner, but the points were shared.

East Thurrock Unites: Hughes, Witherspoon, Stephen, Peddie, Wood, Symons, Bryant (Sammons), Gilbey, Higgins, Smith, Osei

 

Conference South

Concord Rangers 3–3 Bishop’s Stortford

A thrilling game saw Concord Rangers and Bishop's Stortford share the points at the Aspect Arena.

The Beachboys got off to the worst possible start in this match. A penalty conceded in only the 2nd minute gave the visitors the lead, George Sykes profiting from a foul in the box.

Things got twice as bad five minutes before the break, as the away team added a second. To add insult to injury it was former Canvey man Sheldon Sellears who scored but Concord, never a team to give up, halved the deficit immediately.

Steve Cawley grabbed his second of the season to send the Beachboys into half-time with fresh hope.

And the faith of the home crowd was rewarded with 20 minutes to go – Jordan Chiedozie scoring in consecutive games to draw Danny Cowley’s team level.

And the turnaround was complete five minutes later – Chiedozie once again on the mark to put the Beachboys in front for the first time in the game.

But the drama was not over – as the visitors came back to find an equaliser of their own – Rod Young scoring the sixth and final goal of the game.

 

Ryman Premier

Tonbridge Angels 4–1 Canvey Island

Canvey were beaten on the road after taking an early lead against Tonbridge Angels.

Canvey enjoyed the best of the opening exchanges on their journey down to Kent and took the lead on 20 minutes - Victor Osobu netting on the road after his goal at Maidstone United recently.

But the lead was shortlived. Only five minutes later a swift counter-attack saw Billy Medlock draw the home team level and things got worse for Danny Heale’s men only moments after the break.

Tremendous work from Okojie saw him dance past two men and unleash a fierce shot past Danzelle St Louis-Hamilton.

And the keeper was caught out for Angels’ third goal – after he was caught in no man’s land and former Tilbury striker Harisson Tweddell was left with the easy task of tapping into an empty net.

Billy Medlock added his second and Tonbridge’s fourth in stoppage time.

 

Billericay 1–2 Bognor Regis Town

Billlericay’s winning run came to an end at home against Bognor Regis Town, after a late strike downed Craig Edwards’ side.

Bognor had struggled against Essex teams so far this term, losing against East Thurrock and Canvey Island already but they took the lead in this encounter.

Ben Johnson opened the scoring for the visitors and that was how it stayed until moments from the end.

Junior Appiah popped up to grab the hosts an equaliser and what looked like a point until Alex Parsons netted with two minutes to go.

 

Ryman North

Great Wakering Rovers 1–5 AFC Sudbury

IT was more heartbreak at home for Great Wakering Rovers as they crashed to a fifth consecutive home defeat of the season.

The visitors were 3-0 up at the break, with goal-machine Kris Newby netting a brace and Aryton Coley adding a third five minutes before half-time.

Wakering have lost all of their matches at Burroughs Park this term and that trend continued tonight although they showed brief signs of forcing a comeback in the second half – Tom Strickland grabbing a goal back for Dan Trenkel’s men.

But that hope was almost immediately extinguished by Newby – who completed his hat-trick with an hour played.

Aryton Coley scored his second of the night with moments to go to complete the scoring.