l RUNDOWN: East Thurrock picked up a morale-boosting point in their first away game of the new season, and will be hopeful of making a similar impressive against Hampton & Richmond Borough.

The other side promoted from the Ryman Premier League last season, Hampton have started on fire, with wins over Eastbourne Borough and Bishop’s Stortford.

But Rocks will not be fearful of making the trip to Hampton, with John Coventry’s men looking to build on the excellent away form that stood them in such good stead last season.

l MANAGER’S VIEW: Rocks boss John Coventry: “It will be very tough and they have recruited well but we take a lot from our performance against Hemel Hempstead on Tuesday.

“I get on well with all the guys over at Hampton so it will be nice to see them all all and I am confident we can do well. They have brought in some good players but so have we.

“We went 1-0 up at Hemel and we managed to concede on half-time. We should have scored in the second-half but if we had lost I would have come away pleased knowing we can mix it with the likes of Hemel. And that is important as well.

“I sat there on Tuesday with no Ben Wood, Tom Wraight and Sam Higgins.

“And without those three we did well and could have won the game, so there is a lot there for us to move forward with.”

l BETTING ODDS: Hampton 7/10, East Thurrock 41/10

l TEAM NEWS: Former captain and the versatile Ben Wood is back available for the first time this season, winger Tom Wraight is suffering with bad blisters, striker Sam Higgins is out with a muscle injury.