Chippenham Town 2-2 East Thurrock United

(Pratt 9’, Richards 35’: Smith 46’, 50)

From Hardenhuish Park

National League South

A LEWIS Smith brace ensured East Thurrock United took a hard-fought point from dogged Chippenham Town.

Smith scored twice in five minutes at the start of the second-half to complete a comeback which looked unlikely at half-time.

Rocks had won both of their away matches of term to date, and occupied second place in the standings.

But it was last season’s Southern Premier League champions that started on top.

Former Canvey Island defender Mike Jones fired over for Chippenham before the first goal of the afternoon.

David Pratt was picked out by Andy Sandell and he curled beyond Lukas Lidakevicius in the away goal.

The hosts were good value for their lead and could have stretched it before the second goal did arrive.

A cross was played onto the head of Will Richards and he gave Lidakevicius no chance 10 minutes before the break.

It had been a poor first 45 minutes from Rocks but they started the second-half quickly.

Inside 60 seconds the deficit had been halved, Smith striking into the corner.

And all of Chippenham’s good first-half work was undone with five minutes of the half played.

Smith scored his third goal in two matches to change the complexion of the match.

But Chippenham steadied themselves and almost retook the lead, as Jake Andrews got in front of his man only for his header to drop past the post.

Smith almost completed his hat-trick, but Jared Thompson was equal to the effort.

The hosts almost nicked it late on but Lidakevicius was equal to the shots that came his way, as Rocks continued their unbeaten start to term.

East Thurrock United: Lidakevicius, Sammons, Peddie, Allen, Akpiteta, Burns, Agyemang (Boswell 66’), Harris, Higgins, Akinwande (Ruel 78’), Smith (Honesty 82’)