The Official site of Thurrock Football Club

Tuesday 12th August – AFC Wimbledon 2 – 1 Thurrock

League, 7:45pm

AFC	Teams	Thurrock
2	Goals	1
11	Shots on	1
10	Shots off	1
0	Offside	3
11	Fouls Against	20
0	Yellow	0
0	Red	0
7	Corners	4
tbc	Att	n/a
n/a	Star Man	n/a

Two goals in the last five minutes gave Blue Square South newcomers  AFC Wimbledon the points in this exciting game at Kingsmeadow.

Thurrock took the lead in the 15th minute as Fola Orilonishe’s corner was headed across goal by Rob Swaine, Phil Anderson tapped in on the line.

However, the home side then laid siege on the Fleet goal and for most of the remainder of the game it was backs to the wall.

Firstly Antony Finn’s pass split the Thurrock defence open, and Michael Haswell’s shot was well saved by Andrew Young.

Tom Davis came close moments later but his effort drilled across goal and wide.

Wimbledon had a penalty appeal turned down on the brink of half time as Finn’s shot was magnificently blocked by Kenny Clark. The ball rebounded to Haswell who hit the ground after Matt Paine’s sublime challenge, much to the dismay of the home fans but the referee rightly waved play on.

Wimbledon opened the second half in similar fashion with Finn continuing to threaten Young’s goal.

On the hour mark, the home fans had another penalty appeal turned down as Paine once again eliminated the threat, this time with a great tackle which prevented Jon Main the opportunity of an equaliser.

Moments later, Kennedy Adjel jinked through the midfield but his shot was once again blocked by Clark and cleared by Swaine.

For 85 minutes it looked like the Fleet back four, – who along with goalkeeper Young and midfielder “Max” Lettejallow were outstanding – would shut out the home side, but just as at home to Eastleigh on Saturday, late goals broke Thurrock’s hearts.

Firstly, an 86th minute defensive error allowed Elliot Godfrey to equalise from close range.

Then at the death, substitute Chris Hussey got in behind loanee Rhys Henry. His cross was laid wide by Main, and Luke Garrard smashed his shot in at the near post to send the 2,786 home fans into raptures.

Although statistically it would seem that Wimbledon deserved the points, Thurrock matched the home side across the park and will feel aggrieved to have once again conceded late goals which has cost them the points.

Next up, away to Team Bath who boast ten goals in two games in their debut season at this level.

The Official site of Thurrock Football Club

Saturday 9th August – Thurrock 0 – 1 Eastleigh

League, 3pm

Thurrock	Teams	Eastleigh
0	Goals	1
8	Shots on	1
3	Shots off	5
4	Offside	1
21	Fouls Against	17
0	Yellow	0
0	Red	0
6	Corners	6
tbc	Att	n/a
n/a	Star Man	n/a

Luke Byles’ 82nd minute header was enough to gift Eastleigh with the points in a game which on another day, would have seen the home side win by a margin.

Having lost 4-1 at Ship Lane in their last League fixture, Eastleigh started with caution and it showed as it took 14 minutes for the first shot of the game, coming from Andy Harris’ 25 yard effort which sailed wide.

The home side responded 5 minutes later when debutant Hakeem Araba forced a terrific save from Jason Matthews.

60 seconds later, Rhys Henry’s through ball found Che Stadhart who looked to have been pulled down by Tom Jordan but the referee waved play on and the front man managed to force another save out of Matthews in the away goal.

In the 26th minute, after Nicky Greene’s 20 yard effort was deflected out for a corner,  Fola Orilonishe floated in the set piece towards Rob Swaine who was felled but again the referee waved play on.

Thurrock came closest to breaking the deadlock in the 60th minute when Araba collided with Matthews and Jordan on the edge of the box. The ball rolled wide to Stadhart whose effort was cleared off the line by Ashley Vickers. The rebound fell to the feet of Henry, but his goalbound flick was cleared off the line by a diving header, again from Vickers.

Moments later, Henry once again created space, and his superb through ball gifted Orilonishe a one-on-one opportunity, but again Matthews did well to save, and clear for another corner.

Then on 82 minutes, and completely against the run of play, Trevor Challis’ first time cross from the left was headed home by Byles at the far post for the visitors first shot on target.

The Official site of Thurrock Football Club

Saturday 2nd August – Thurrock 0 – 2 Gillingham

Friendly, 3pm

Thurrock	Teams	Gillingham
0	Goals	2
3	Shots on	8
3	Shots off	15
7	Offside	3
8	Fouls Against	6
0	Yellow	0
0	Red	0
2	Corners	7
tbc	Att	n/a
n/a	Star Man	n/a

Two first half goals by Nicky Southall and Simeon Jackson were enough for League Two Gillingham to win this game which concludes pre-season for both sides.

Having endured a far from successful pre-season on the back of last seasons relegation from League One, the visitors were here to prove a point ahead of next weeks trip to Bournemouth.

The intent was clearly obvious as Gillingham almost took the lead inside 40 seconds but Jackson diverted Mark Bently’s shot wide.

However, they didn’t have to wait long to break the deadlock and in the 4th minute, Jackson laid the ball wide to Southall whose right-footed rocket beat Andrew Young at the far post.

Thurrock offered trials to potential loanee Rhys Henry from Southend, and Tuesday’s nemesis from Tilbury, Anton Stevenson, and in the 27th minute they almost made a name for themselves as Henry found Stevenson in a 1-on-1 situation with Simon Royce but ex-Southend shot stopper cleared to safety.

Nicky Green came close for Thurrock in the 38th minute with a 30 yard screamer which whistled narrowly wide. Then from the resulting goal kick, Royce’s route one punt up field found Jackson in the box who slotted home from close range.

The Fleet finally hit the target in the 55th minute as Henry beat two defenders before his shot was well saved by Royce.  In response, the visitors went close again through Bently, Andrew Crofts, and Adam Miller.

Thurrock thought they had given themselves a lifeline late on when Che Stadhart’s back heel was converted by Bai Mas Lettejallow, only to be ruled out for offside.