Maidstone United 1, East Thurrock United 1

RYMAN PREMIER:

EAST Thurrock battled to a valuable point against promotion-chasing Maidstone in their bid to avoid relegation.

Rocks produced an outstanding defensive display to keep out the hosts until the 85th minute, cancelling out an early opener from Sam Higgins.

Maidstone hit the frame of the goal three times and had three efforts cleared off the line before Zac Attwood netted his 21st goal of the season.

The game kicked off 15 minutes late due to an injury to the assistant referee and John Coventry’s men raced out of the blocks – scoring with their first real attack.

Higgins, the club’s record goalscorer, ran onto a hopeful looking ball forward and shot. Although his initial effort was blocked, he was quickest to the rebound and nodded past the onrushing keeper Lee Worgan.

It should have been two 15 minutes later when a deep ball from Ryan Sammons was missed by Worgan and Higgins’ header was acrobatically cleared from underneath his own crossbar by the on form Jack Parkinson.

The second half began as the first ended, with Jack Harris denied by the crossbar moments after David Bryant had shot over when well placed in the penalty area.

It appeared the goal would never come when the Stones hit the goal frame for the third time through substitute Steve Watt. But, with five minutes left Attwood fired past Hughes.

Coventry said: “The match had everything. We held on for 85 minutes, but our desire to get something from this match was excellent,” he added.