Thurrock 3, Lewes 2

THURROCK'S luck finally changed on Monday night when they got the rub of the green to haul themselves back from a two goal deficit and earn themselves their first win under manager Hakan Hayrettin.

The hosts could very easily have been three goals down at the interval after a first half in which Lewes showed why they were many pundits' tip for promotion this campaign.

Goals from ex-Aldershot midfielder Gary Holloway and Jamie Cade put the visitors two up inside the first half hour and it could have been worse had the linesman not ruled out a clear "goal" by Jean-Michel Sigere when his shot cannoned down off the crossbar and over the line.

Given the Rooks' superiority, the linesman's decision, though woeful, did not seem likely to dramatically change the course of the game.

But when the impressive Hassan Nyang pulled one back for Fleet 10 minutes after the re-start and the visitors retreated into their shells that decision looked like proving increasingly influential.

Nine minutes later the hosts levelled when Matt Lovell prodded home from close range and despite having debutant Leigh Harrington sent off 11 minutes from time, Hayrettin's men still broke free to nick a winner a minute from time.

Substitute Leon Belton-McKenzie collected a huge clearance from keeper Max Aneke and was clumsily brought down by Leon Legge. Steve Harper stepped up and dragged his spot kick horribly wide.

But Thurrock got their second huge slice of luck of the evening when the linesman flagged for a re-take and bravely Harper stepped forward again and this time found the back of the net.

"I'm absolutely delighted," Hayrettin said afterwards. "It's been a long time coming but we have deserved it. We haven't been getting much luck recently after playing well in recent games and tonight we deserved some.

"The boys have worked really hard and with the one or two additions I'm looking for I'm confident we will have a good squad."

Lewes took the lead in the 20th minute. Tobi Jinadu, making his home debut, was too busy claiming a throw had gone the wrong way when Jay Saunders escaped in behind him and crossed for Holloway to sweep home.

Minutes later Sigere twisted Clarke inside out and shot firmly against the underside of the bar. The ball's trajectory made it clear the ball had crossed the line but neither the referee or linesman made a decision and to the disbelief of all the game continued.

The visitors did double their advantage minutes later, however, when a superb cross-field ball from Saunders was flicked on by Steve Robinson and Sigere beat the offside trap and coolly converted underneath Aneke.

Hayrettin's men refused to let their heads drop though, which given they had gone eight games without a win, is a real credit to the man in charge.

Harper had a goal ruled out just before the interval after Harrington's cross swerved out of play but they came out in the second half all guns blazing.

And it was the impressive Nyang, who covered just about every blade of grass over the 90 minutes, who started the comeback, driving home from the edge of the box after a free-kick was half-cleared by the visiting defence.

Shell-shocked Lewes were pegged back to level terms nine minutes later when Tarkan Mustafa crossed for Jinadu whose volley was brilliantly saved by Wilkinson only for it to fall for Lovell who rammed home the rebound.

Lewes looked totally devoid of ideas but were given some hope when Fleet were reduced to 10 men after a rash and tired-looking challenge by Harrington.

The left back lunged horribly into Cade and though it was by no means malicious the referee had little option but to send him off because of the lateness of the challenge.

Rooks pushed for the winner but were undone a minute from time when Akeke found out Belton-McKenzie who made his way into the box and was tripped by Legge allowing Harper to, eventually, fire Fleet to a long overdue first win of the season.

Thurrock: Ekeke, White, Harrington, Ward (Clarke 15), Jinadu, Nyang, Mustafa, Howard, Thomas (Belton-McKenzie 45), Lovall.