THURROCK manager Mark Stimson said Saturday’s 5-0 win at Heybridge Swifts could have been even more comprehensive on a very good day for his side.

Fleet were emphatic winners, with five different scorers on the day and Stimson was full of praise for his men.

“It was a very good performance and to get the three points and a clean sheet made for a good Saturday night,” he said. “We started the game well and by half-time we were 3-0 up.

“In the second-half the boys stuck to the game plan and added two more goals, while their goalkeeper pulled off a couple of decent saves.

“And with us hitting the post the scoreline could have been even more.”

The fixtures calendar and cup contention had conspired to give Thurrock a 10-day break between fixtures.

Fleet were looking to extend their recent good form to four games unbeaten run to four games but Heybridge had the first chance, with former Bowers & Pitsea goalkeeper Bobby Mason forced into smothered a fierce cross.

The returning David Cowley curled the ball just beyond the far upright as Thurrock improved, with Remi Sutton then kept out by Danny Sambridge.

Thurrock broke the deadlock after 11 minutes. A corner from Glenn Poole made its way to Richard Halle and his header rocketed into the net.

Charlie Stimson hit the post but, nine minutes after the first goal came the second. Halle sent a deft ball over the Swifts defence and full-back Mark Onyemah beat the offside trap and drilled past Sambridge and into the side netting.

Heybridge nearly pulled one back but excellent defending from Hussain Jaffa and Halle kept it at 2-0.

But there was to be a third before the break. Cowley crossed to the far post and Stimson glanced his header inside the post.

The fourth didn’t come until 15 minutes from time.

Cowley’s forward pass was slightly too long for Stimson but the attacker kept the ball in play against the odds.

He crossed for Reece Morgan who outjumped the goalkeeper and defender to loop his header into the far corner for his first Thurrock goal.

Stimson was replaced by Michael Pindy a few minutes later and, with several minutes of normal time left, he had added his name to the scoresheet.

The forward was played in and he sped through and confidently stroked the ball past Sambridge to score his first Thurrock goal and round off a fine team performance.