Maidstone United 3-2 East Thurrock United

From the Gallagher Stadium

Ryman Premier League

 

EAST Thurrock United’s season ended with defeat as they were downed by league champions Maidstone United.

Rocks had taken only two points from the last 12 on offer and headed to Kent to play a side who had only lost once at home all season.

But they took the newly-crowned champions right to the wire.

Goals from Mitchell Gilbey and Max Cornhill gave the visitors hope, although they could have snatched a point had 44-goal Sam Higgins not missed a first-half penalty.

But Maidstone took the points and they were the side who started in the ascendency.

Billy Bricknell cut inside only to shoot narrowly wide of the far post, with David Hughes beaten.

Tom Mills shot wide but midway through the first-half the goal did come.

Neat work from Matt Bodkin saw him beat Ryan Sammons and cross from Jay May who netted.

But Rocks had an ideal chance to hit back when Higgins was brought down in the penalty area.

Up stepped the striker but the post denied him and soon after it was 2-0.

Bricknell picked up the ball on the edge of the box and picked his spot beyond Hughes.

John Coventry’s side were not giving up and started the second-half well, with Smith shooting narrowly wide.

Lee Worgan kept out the striker with a fingertip save on 54 minutes and the keeper was again on had to deny the same man on the hour mark.

Higgins shot wide before Rocks got the goal their play deserved.

Smith played the ball to Gilbey and he fired home beyond Worgan.

But Maidstone restored their two-goal advantage after an effort from Hughes. His attempted clearance was slashed to Bricknell and he scored into an empty goal.

Cornhill bulleted home a header with six minutes remaining but it was too alter for Rocks, who end the season in 13th place, 10 points off the final play-off place.

 

East Thurrock United: Hughes, Sammons, Wood, Goodacre (Peddie), Stephen, Cornhill, Symons (Paxman), Gilbey, Witherspoon, Smith, Higgins