Rocks roll over Worthing

3:23pm Sunday 17th December 2006

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Worthing 0 East Thurrock United 2

ON their return to action after a three week weather-enforced break, Rocks produced another battling display on the road to edge further away from a possible Ryman Premier League relegation fight, though their hosts remain firmly embroiled in the tussle at the bottom.

The visitors enjoyed an early escape when Worthing's Ben Andrews had the ball in the net after 12 minutes but the goal' was disallowed.

Luck was then with the home side when Rocks' Ellis Remy struck an upright with a volley from 20 yards after 17 minutes and defender Andy Lutwyche was on hand to block a strike from Shaun Batt, who marked his return to Rocks' ranks on loan from Dagenham with an impressive display.

Worthing hit back with James Fraser going close and then Rocks keeper Jamie Lunan was called into action to save from the head of Danny Davis. In front of Lunan, the ever dependable Kevin Mully was having a good game marshalling the home defence, in which youngster Bradley Stevens was also outstanding.

As might have been anticipated from two sides desperate for points, the match was closely contested throughout, with the action swing from end to end.

After good work by Danny Harris Remy forced a save from Rikki Banks and then, at the other end, Jamie Brotherton's shot just cleared the bar from 25 yards. Lunan was then forced to save from Mark Knee and Andrews saw his close range 36th minute long range effort go wide.

Despite these and other chances it looked as if the first half might end goalless, particularly when Banks again did well to deny Remy on 43 minutes, but the deadlock was broken just before the break when dangerman Remy was thwarted from getting on the end of Harris's cross by a push and James Bunn converted the subsequent penalty.

There were fewer chances in the second half but Rocks looked the stronger side and they were further rewarded on the hour mark when an over-hit cross from the Worthing right wing was collected on the other side of the pitch by Batt, whose pace had been causing the home defence problems throughout the match. A 90 yard run down the right wing beating three defenders on the way was climaxed by a perfectly placed cross which Lee Williams ran onto and he produced a clinical finish.

Worthing looked a beaten side in the closing stages, though Andrews did go close with a 77th minute strike and Lunan had to make a couple of saves.

Rocks are back in action on Monday, with a league trip to Windsor where they will play Slough Town.

Rocks boss Lee Patterson said: "It was really important to win this game and the players responded with a dogged display. We were well worth our first half lead and we scored a great second goal with Shaun Batt and Lee Williams running about 70 yards to make the box.

"While all the players played their part, Bradley Stevens was exceptional, to come into the side at only 18 years of age, and to mark a player of Mark Watson's experience and come out of it the way he did was brilliant for the lad".

Rocks: Jamie Lunan, Wes Faulkner, Steve Harrison. Kevin Mully, Bradley Stevens, Max Cornhill, Lee Williams, Shaun Batt, Ellis Remy, James Bunn (Danny Hayzelden) Danny Harris (Jon Turnbull 60) Subs not used: Ade Olayinka, Tommy Laws, Jamie Riley.