Tilbury 3-4 Thurrock

From Chadfields

Ryman One North

 

THURROCK triumphed in a classic contest with borough rivals Tilbury to keep their play-off dream alive.

Fleet won 4-3 at the mid-table Dockers, who have enjoyed a resurgence under manager Gary Henty since the end of last year, to keep up the pace at the top of the table.

Thurrock started quickly and had the lead inside the opening 60 seconds to profit from some unusually poor defending.

Rob Clark scored before they were pegged back by Neil Richmond who levelled with a neat finish.

Back came Thurrock and Ross Wall, one of Thurrock’s brightest sparks this season, scored to put the visitors back in front before the same man put Fleet 3-1 up at the break.

Tilbury weren’t giving up and Richmond scored his second soon after the break, when he finished well past Rhys Madden having been played onside.

But Tilbury struggled to build on the platform Richmond had given them and Thurrock restored their two goal lead when substitute L’Hereaux Mega was clattered in the box, leaving former Docker Aaron Waters to slam home the penalty.

Francis Babalola won a controversial penalty late on, dispatched by Tony Martin, and even had a chance to snatch a point.

Richmond should have had his treble after a goalkeeping slip but could only shoot wide from outside the penalty area.

 

Tilbury: Giddens, Webb, Cook, Pooley, Smith, Wood (Duarte), Babalola, Carlile, Richmond. Martin, Flack (Daniel)

Thurrock: R Madden, G Madden, L Clark, Waters, Sutton, Goode, Christou, R Clark, Carvell, Wall, Thompson