The Official site of Thurrock Football Club

Tuesday 7th October – Thurrock 3 – 3 AET Hayes & Yeading

Setanta Shield, 7:45pm – Thurrock win 5-4 on pens

Thurrock	Teams	Hayes&Yeading
3	Goals	3
4	Shots on	7
4	Shots off	13
12	Offside	5
21	Fouls Against	19
2	Yellow	1
2	Red	0
4	Corners	10
tbc	Att
Lechmere	Star Man

Nine men Thurrock kept their nerve to win this Setanta Shield tie 5-4 on penalties against one of the early pacesetters, Hayes & Yeading.

Thurrock took the lead on 25 minutes as the outstanding Sam Lechmere broke down the right, his cross was converted by Leon McKenzie. The lead was doubled 5 minutes later as Mark Wright curled his free kick over the wall and into the top corner of the net.

Moments later, the visitors were back in the game as David Blackmore fouled Josh Scott in the box. Scott picked himself up and converted the penalty.

United began to put pressure on Thurrock and with just 3 minutes of normal time remaining, Scott turned provider for Scott Fitzgerald to equalise.

Extra time looked certain but nobody could predict what was about to happen!

In the 93rd minute, Jon Docker found space down the right and his cross was met by the diving head of Che Stadhart who sent an unstoppable shot passed Delroy Preddie in what everyone at Ship Lane would have thought was the winner.

However this was not the case and with the referee with whistle to lips and the ball safely in Blackmore’s hands, the ‘keeper decided to lash out at Fitzgerald and was dismissed for violent conduct. Rob Swaine deputised in goal for the penalty and could do nothing to stop Scott from grabbing his second of the game and Hayes & Yeadings equaliser in the eight minute of stoppage time.

Matt Paine went in goal for extra time before the away side lost Tom Cadmore to injury in extra time to even up the numbers but it was soon to be advantage United once more as Stadhart was dismissed for two bookings.

With the entertainment unable to find a winner on the pitch it was left to penalties. David Bryant, Mark Wright, Lechmere, Craig Hughes, and Docker all converted their spot kicks in impressive fashion for the home side as did the first four United penalty takers. The last kick was taken by Kieran Knight who shot over the bar to give the Fleet a place in the next round.

The Official site of Thurrock Football Club

Saturday 4th October – Weston-super-Mare 2 – 1 Thurrock

League, 3pm

Weston	Teams	Thurrock
2	Goals	1
2	Shots on	3
6	Shots off	4
3	Offside	6
20	Fouls Against	17
1	Yellow	1
0	Red	0
4	Corners	2
tbc	Att
Gurney	Star Man

Thurrock must count themselves unlucky not to have gained at least a point when they made their longest league journey of the season to Weston-super-Mare on Saturday, the home side’s winning goal coming in the 88th minute. 

Both teams had chances in the opening minutes. For the home side Marc McGregor was off target while at the other end David Bryant could do no better following a Sam Letchmere cross. Bryant was soon in action again as he made his way down the left hand side but his dangerous cross was well cut out by Weston keeper Ryan Northmore.  

Thurrock went ahead in the 19th minute in spectacular fashion, Jon Docker sending in a rocket of a free kick from fully 35 yards into the top right hand corner of the net. Fleet should have gone two up just three minutes later when from a Mark Wright corner Rob Swaine fired over when well placed. 

The miss was to prove costly as in the 25th minute Weston equalised. Andrew Gurney opened up the Thurrock defence with a through ball to Darren Mullens on the edge of the area. Mullens was able to shoot past the advancing David Blackmore into the left hand corner of the net. Mullens was only just wide a few minutes later when again the Thurrock defence was opened up this time by Ashan Holgate. 

As the second half continued neither side looked as though it would make the vital break through. That was until the 88th minute when Weston were awarded a free kick on the right had side. Mark McKeever’s kick was headed back across goal by Charlie Comyn-Plat. The ball was pushed onto the crossbar and Holgate was on hand to head home. 

The Official site of Thurrock Football Club

Saturday 27th September – Thurrock 0 – 5 Boreham Wood

FA Cup, 3pm

Thurrock	Teams	Boreham Wood
0	Goals	5
6	Shots on	10
5	Shots off	7
5	Offside	5
12	Fouls Against	7
2	Yellow	1
0	Red	0
5	Corners	5
90	Att
	Star Man	Archer

Thurrock crashed out of the FA Cup at the first attempt for the third season on the trot as Ryman Premier side Boreham Wood ran out 5-0 winners at Ship Lane.

The away side took just 2 minutes to take the lead as Lee Allinsons half volley beat Nedjet Hussein from the edge if the box.

Boreham Wood made it two on 11 minutes as Hussein’s parried save was headed in by close range by Jon Wordsworth.

In the 18th minute the visitors made it three as Leon Archer met a delightful through ball to slot home from close range.

Man of the match Archer extended the Ryman sides lead in the 48th minute, once again receiving a through ball and slotting into the corner of the net.

In the 51st minute it was game over as Chris Watters stepped up to convert a direct free kick.

Things went from bad to worse for Thurrock when Craig Hughes was sent to hospital with concussion.

Thurrock: Hussein, Lettejallow, Anderson, Wright, Paine, Hughes (Pugh 85), Lechmere, Docker, Bryant (Araba 54) Stadhart McKenzie 71), Orilonishe. Subs not used. Justham (GK), Taylor, Gilbert, Read. Booked: Hughes, Bryant