THURROCK’S inconsistent recent form continued as they went down 1-0 to a struggling Heybridge Swifts side.

Swifts were looking down at the relegation places before the day started but a solitary goal proved enough to see off play-off chasing Fleet.

Mark Stimson’s side should have taken an early lead when Ross Wall was left unmarked inside the box, but he shot over under pressure.

Heybridge scored with their first real chance of the game. Debutant Marcel Henry-Francis was in the right place to shoot home after Fleet goalkeeper Andy Walker could only parry Billy Hunt’s shot.

Wall headed over before Charlie Hunter countered, but he too shot off target.

Henry-Francis should have doubled the advantage but for a fine save from Walker, with an unusually subdued Fleet struggling to create many clear-cut chances.

Louis Hazelwood came on and offered more drive, fizzing a fine effort narrowly past the post with 20 minutes remaining on the clock.

Next up it was Abs Thompson who had a chance but his low cross wasn’t finished by Fleet captain Lewis Spence, who sustained a head injury in the process.

Rob Gilman headed goalwards inside the final five minutes only for the ball to be cleared away under pressure.

Fleet sat 5th heading into the Christmas holidays.

Thurrock: Walker, Goode, Waters, Gilman, King, Clark, Thompson, Nouble, Spence, Wall, Smith