East Thurrock 4–0 Canvey Island

From Rookery Hill

Ryman Premier League

 

EAST Thurrock United piled on the misery for Canvey Island as they romped to a 4-0 win over their rivals.

A hat-trick from Sam Higgins, plus a first Rocks goal for Aaron Morgan handed East Thurrock a comfortable win, with goalkeeper Lukas Lidakevicius saving a first-half Jay Curran penalty in windy conditions.

It didn’t start well for the Gulls, as they went behind after just 10 minutes. It was Higgins that got the goal although they was an element of good fortune about it.

Ryan Sammons lined up a long range effort but it struck Higgins and wrong footed Canvey goalkeeper Conor Gough, before finding the net.

Lidakevicius kept out Curran as he struck from long range, while Lewis Smith tested Gough at the other end.

Both goalkeeper’s were performing well in boggy six yard boxes, as Martin Tuohy was the next to be kept out by Lidakevicius, and Rocks took full advantage.

James Walker played in Higgins and he rounded Gough to find the net.

Danny Heale’s men had a golden chance to get back into the game on the half-hour mark when Corringham lad Curran won a penalty.

But Lidakevicius was not to be beaten as he made the save from 12 yards.

Gough saved from Smith as the half came to an end, although the second period didn’t hold better tidings for the visitors.

They did start the brighter of the sides, as ex Rocks duo Mitchell Gilbey and Tuohy combined for the latter to strike the post and bounce into the keeper’s arms.

It was 3-0 just before the half-time as Morgan got in on the act. He struck but it struck a defender and once again found the corner.

Three become four with 18 minutes remaining, and Higgins rounded off a fine night’s work as he beat on-loan defender Christian Mbulu and struck beyond Gough.

Rocks remain in third after the result, while Canvey are eight points off the play-off places.

 

East Thurrock: Lidakevicius, Sammons (Shepherd), Nottage, Wood, Hayles (Robson), Craddock, Smith, Wraight, Higgins, Walker, Morgan

Canvey Island: Gough, Pitty, Mbulu, Eyong, Halle, Sheehan, Curran, James-Lewis, Gilbey (Lawson), Tuohy, Stokes