Hendon 2,

East Thurrock 2

A DOUBLE salvo from Lea Dawson saw East Thurrock take a point from a match they could have won.

The opening exchanges were tight with both sides showing glimpses of quality but a lack of clinical finishing in front of goal.

A number of crunching tackles gave the game some bite but it seemed the sides would go into the break on level terms.

Then a cross found Hendon’s Lee O’Leary in the box and he forced the ball over the line from close range.

Rocks hit back straight after the break when an angled ball into the box found Dawson who forced the ball past ‘keeper Berkley Laurencin, taking a nasty whack from defender Sam Flegg in the process.

Invigorated, Rocks poured forward with Jason Hallett going close a couple of times.

They scored a second goal on 72 minutes after a dreadful goalkeeping error from Laurencin. He failed to reach a cross and, under pressure, Dawson reacted quickly to smash the ball in off the underside of the crossbar.

It seemed as though Rocks were destined for three points but Hendon hit back in the 82nd minute through Jefferson Louis, who pounced to drive the ball inside the post for an equaliser and a share of the spoils.