East Thurrock United 2–3 Hemel Hempstead Town

(Clark 64’, Wraight 70’: Robinson 20’, Sherringham 78’, Parkes 90’ (p))

From the FutureFuel Stadium

National League South

A SPIRITED second-half fightback from East Thurrock United was in vain as an injury-time penalty handed Hemel Hempstead Town three points late on.

Rocks trailed after a dire first 45 minutes but goals from Michael Clark and Tom Wraight saw them leading with 15 minutes remaining.

But Hemel got what was a deserved equaliser before Jordan Parkes scored the winner from the penalty spot deep into added time.

Rocks were boosted by the return of Clark, after he was cleared to play by parent club Leyton Orient.

But he was booked after just five minutes as Hemel put a new-look back-line under pressure, with Marvel Ekpiteta joining brother Marvin in defence.

Jake Robinson looked to catch out goalkeeper Lukas Lidakevicius with an audacious lob but the ball dropped wide, with 15 minutes played.

But he was to score a much simpler goal five minutes later. A corner was flicked on by Tony Diagne and Robinson struck beyond the goalkeeper.

Marvin Ekpiteta made an excellent block to deny Robinson a second, with Sam Higgins furrowing an increasingly lone plight up front for East Thurrock.

Following his fine block at the back, Ekpiteta then proved wasteful at the other end as he sent a header harmlessly over when unmarked from eight yards.

Rocks came out after the break much improved and almost drew level inside 60 seconds.

A marauding Lee Burns made ground down the right and his near-post hit was shovelled away by former Concord Rangers goalkeeper Jamie Butler.

Higgins sent a speculative lob inches wide from a wide position before doing brilliantly to play in James Walker, who fired over on the stretch.

Rocks were seemingly edging closer to the leveller and it came through Clark.

A corner was sent in by Reece Harris and the defender bundled home as Hemel appealed for foul on Butler.

And six minutes later the hosts had the lead. Excellent play from substitute Harry Honesty down the right saw a left-footed cross met by Wraight and he headed back across goal to find the corner.

Clark missed a golden chance to add to his tally when he fluffed his lines from five yards.

Higgins hit the top of the bar with a lob from an almost identical position as earlier in the half.

But out of nothing the away side drew level. A corner was met at the near post by Charlie Sherringham, son of former England frontman Teddy, and it beat a man on the line to find the net.

Higgins fizzed an effort wide before Sherringham brought a good save out of Lidakevicius as the final 10 minutes beckoned.

Hemel’s Robinson saw a goal disallowed inside the final five minutes but they were to get the winner.

A foul by Marvin Ekpiteta on Michael Thalassitis in the penalty area was penalised and Parkes steered the ball home.

East Thurrock United: Lidakevicius, Burns (Freiter 60’), Marvel Ekpiteta, Marvin Ekpiteta, Clark, Craddock, Harris, Marlow, Higgins, Walker (Honesty 68’), Wraight