JOHN Coventry said East Thurrock United’s depleted squad caught up with them after they went down 5-0 to Met Police.

The Rocks manager saw his side’s three-month unbeaten run in the league come to an emphatic end following the loss at Rookery Hill.

A number of East Thurrock’s players were struggling with illness, with goalkeeper David Hughes ruled out on the morning of the match with the sickness bug.

And it was compounded by a dismissal for Coventry, who was sent to the stands following an outburst at referee Thomas Ramsey in the second half.

“It goes back to Tuesday’s game at Enfield,” he said. “We dug in that day and got a great result but asking the same team to do that four days later was too much.

“Losing David Hughes at 10am wasn’t great to say the least. I want to say a big thank you to Nicky Symons, inset, who stepped in a filled the void for us. Although we conceded five goals, Nicky had a great game for us and didn’t let us down.

“He has played in goal once before for us, but the fact that he has a pair of goalkeeper gloves qualifies him as second choice!

Hughes is expected to be back for East Thurrock’s match at Grays on Saturday, with Coventry hoping the sickness bug that has swept the squad subsides by the time the derby arrives.

And it is not only the squad that has been affected.

“Our hospitality staff were suffering as well so the Met Police hospitality team stepped in and ran our board room and we are very grateful to them for that.

“Lewis Smith was ill but played and there were others as well but it was a difficult afternoon in more ways than one.”

Coventry was sent from the dugouts after berating the referee following a number of decisions.

And he will now serve a touchline ban following his outburst.

“The referee had an extremely poor game,” said the Rocks manager. “I said something he didn’t like and that is that. I will be fined and have to watch from the stands now.”

But Coventry said, all-in-all, he was delighted with East Thurrock’s start to the season – which has seen them reach the FA Cup First Round and record their highest ever league finish in the Ryman Premier League at this stage – they are currently 10th with 35 points.

“I think you have got to be really happy,” he said. “If you consider our cup runs and how that has impacted upon our finances that has helped us off the pitch a great deal. On the pitch, we have been superb at times. A lot of credit must go to the players.”