East Thurrock United 2–1 Hampton & Richmond Borough

From Rookery Hill

Ryman Premier League

 

MAKESHIFT striker Ryan Scott helped East Thurrock United to a narrow win over promotion hopefuls Hampton & Richmond Borough.

Scott was played through the middle in the absence of Sam Higgins and James Walker but he took his goal like a seasoned attacker.

Harry Honesty added a second on the stroke of half-time and, despite conceding seconds into the second period, they held on thanks to some miraculous saves from goalkeeper Lukas Lidakevicius.

It was Scott who had the first chance of the afternoon, as a Lewis Smith corner was headed back across goal but Scott could only slice off target.

Rocks had started at a blistering space and should have led moments later. Smith bombed down the right and fired in a delightful cross that Hampton stopper Mark Smith could only parry to Tom Wraight. But his effort crashed off the underside of the crossbar and into the grateful keeper’s arms.

The hosts had made all of the early running, but they were reliant on their own goalkeeper to keep parity after 15 minutes.

Charlie Moone turned Rickie Hayles inside out but Lukas Lidakevicius blocked his effort aside with his legs.

But, somewhat inevitably, it was make-shift striker Scott that grabbed the goal with a drilled effort into the near post following a cross from Wraight.

The game hit a lull before Rocks doubled their advantage on the stroke of half-time. Wraight won a free-kick the away side disputed and Smith hammered an effort off the bar, with Harry Honesty profiting from a yard out.

Buoyed by a sense of injustice, Hampton stormed into action less than a minute into the second-half. A long punt upfield by Smith looped high off Simon Peddie's head and beyond Lidakevicius.

The keeper was making some vital interceptions with Brendon Kierman kept out after his fierce drive from the edge of the area was tipped over, shortly after the Hampton man had found the net, only to be denied by the offside flag.

Hampton were cranking the pressure up but they were unable to breach a stubborn back-line.

Peddie was in the right place at the right time to block on the goal-line as the clock ticked down but Lidakevicius saved his best until last.

Sammy Knott looked as though he had headed past his keeper from close range but he made a superb one-handed save to keep the points at Rookery Hill.

 

East Thurrock: Lidakevicius, Sammons, Knott, Peddie, Hayles, Wood, L Smith (Anderson), Robson, Scott, Honesty, Wraight

Hampton & RB: M Smith, Kamara, Jelley, Murphy, Diarra, Taylor, Kierman, Sinclair, Casey (Hutchinson), Moone, Federico