East Thurrock United 1–0 Leiston

From Rookery Hill

Ryman Premier League

 

EAST Thurrock United’s play-off march continued as they edged a game of fine margins against Leiston.

Sam Higgins has had a superb season even by his standards. And his 29th of the season will live long in the memory.

A ball over the top from Lewis Smith found Higgins on the right hand side of the penalty area and the striker brought the ball down, dragged it past his marker and shot across the goalkeeper and in off the far post.

East Thurrock were in the middle of a run that saw them play four consecutive games at Rookery Hill and, following a 4-0 win against Peacehaven & Telscombe in the first match of that sequence, were keen to consolidate their play-off position with another three points.

But it was 7th placed Leiston who started the brighter. Danny Cunningham was running the show in midfield and, had it not been for a goal-line block from Rocks captain Tom Stephen, Leiston would have taken an early lead.

But Rocks, who have only lost one of the last 16 league games, were never going to roll over. Terrific work by Kye Ruel saw him jink past Stuart Broadley on the right touchline and cross, only for it to evade the onrushing forwards.

Gareth Heath spun on the ball and shot over, as Patrick Brothers had an effort. But it was a first half devoid of chances, with one of the biggest cheers coming when the referee fell over on the near touchline.

The Rookery Hill pitch was cutting up, having been frozen the morning of the match, and the players were struggling to keep their footing.

Although Rocks’ full-backs were inches away from handing the hosts the advantage, when Ryan Sammons got in behind only for his cross to miss the sliding Tom Stephen by inches.

Nicky Symons saw an effort pushed wide by former Southend United goalkeeper Danny Gay before the half-time whistle.

Rocks continued to push on after the interval and should have taken the lead five minutes into the second half.

Lewis Smith was allowed far too much time to find Sam Higgins, but the club’s top marksman was denied superbly by Danny Gay.

However, the same two East Thurrock men combined to better effect five minutes later, when Higgins found the net in spectacular style.

The front two were proving difficult to handle, with Smith shooting up and over when it would have been easier to score.

Craig Parker had Leiston’s best chance of the second period when his header dropped wide of the far post after a deep cross by the marauding Leon Ottley-Gooch.

Leiston cranked up the pressure in the final 10 minutes but Rocks held firm in what was a superb defensive display.

They now sit joint fourth with Hendon.

East Thurrock United: Hughes, Sammons, Stephen, Wood, Goodacre, Symons (Parmenter), Ruel (Gilbey), Witherspoon, Bryant, Higgins, Smith

Leiston: Gay, Ottley-Gooch, Broadley, Cunningham, Jefford, Bullard, Winter (Saker), Heath, Mitchell, Parker, Brothers

ECHO MOM: Paul Goodacre (ETU)

 

Other results:

Conference South: St Albans City 2-0 Concord Rangers

Ryman Premier Division: Billericay Town 2-0 Leatherhead