East Thurrock United 2 – 2 Wealdstone
East Thurrock United2 - 2
WealdstoneWell, the luck hasn’t changed yet as a far better Stones performance resulted in a cruel draw at East Thurrock.
Stones started a little tentatively, but took the lead on seven minutes when Mark Burgess quickly took a throw in to Richard Jolly and his cross from the bye line was drilled home from 6 yards by Marvin Morgan.
The first half in itself was even although Stones created the better of the chances, Jolly, Tilbury and Morgan all having chances to increase the lead, but as the half came to a close, Eats Thurrock equalised when Stones marking was exposed at a corner, Barry heading home at the near post on 44 minutes.
The second half saw Thurrock start brightly buoyed by their goal and they forced Stones back for almost fifteen minutes, but the Stones defence marshalled well by the returning Carvell limited the home side to half chances. As the half wore on Stones took control of the match and seemed to have restored their lead on 65 minutes when Morgan headed in from a corner, the goal though, ruled out harshly for an apparent foul on the goalkeeper.
Stones held their composure and continued to force the home side to defend, again Jolly and Tilbury unlucky not to score for the visitors and from one attack, a ball over the defence from Williams found Tilbury who restored Stones lead from close range.
As the half progressed their was really only one team in it and with a little more luck Stones would have increased their lead, their best effort being saved from Morgan.
As the match drew to a close, it was the home side who forced an attack with a long ball over the Stones defence. Sub Dwyer ran on and as Andy Carter stood his ground, the forward’s shot hit the post only to rebound to Martin who equalised in the 90th minute.
Wealdstone: Andy Carter, James Fisher (b10), Rob Courtnage, Mark Burgess, Matt Carvell, Dave Ryan, Lee Gardener, Tommy Williams, Richard Jolly, Marvin Morgan (7 b37), Danny Tilbury (73) Subs not used: Carl Hunt, Papa Apyemang, Andy Myhill, Fred Cummings
Harrow Times
East Thurrock United 2- 2 Wealdstone 2
By Steve Paull
Did Wealdstone use up all of their good fortune in the first half of the season? That is the question I ask as they certainly have been getting none of the breaks in recent weeks and this once promising season fades away in frustration, writes Steve Paull.
Maybe it wasn’t luck at all that saw East Thurrock score during the added time of both halves and Stones have a perfectly good goal ruled out for an unseen foul.
Stones took the lead after seven minutes. A quick throw from Mark Burgess found Richard Jolly, he then squared the ball for Marvin Morgan to fire home.
The equaliser came on the stroke of half-time a corner from the right was headed in from the edge of the six-yard box at the near post by Barry.
Tilbury then put Wealdstone in front in the 73rd minute, beating the offside trap, controlling Burgess’s chip into the box then calmly slotting past Grant.
But fortune played a cruel hand on the night when, with 92 minutes played, a hopeful punt forward saw Tomkins outstrip Ryan for pace and shoot against a post.
Just as Stones supporters breathed a sigh of relief, Martin appeared out of the estuarial Essex gloom and forced the loose ball over the line.
But this was the best Stones’ performance for some weeks, and if they can produce a storming close to the season maybe second place is not unattainable for them.