East Thurrock United 4–4 Leatherhead

From Rookery Hill

Ryman Premier League

 

AN INJURY-TIME strike from substitute Harry Honesty saved a point for East Thurrock United after they had thrown away a three goal advantage against Leatherhead in the second-half.

Honesty burst through to hammer home in a remarkable encounter at Rookery Hill, which had seen Rocks lead 3-0 with 50 minutes on the clock.

Lewis Smith twice and Tom Anderson had put Rocks firmly in control, but the Surrey outfit turned the game on its head. Four goals in 25 minutes saw them take the game away from the hosts and leave the home faithful shell-shocked.

The match started quickly, with the home side having the majority of the ball, although the first effort came from Leatherhead.

Stacy Long picked up the ball 30 yards from goal and, advancing, hit a fierce drive over the dive of Lukas Lidakevicius and just over the angle of post and bar.

Shocked into a response, Smith hammered a free-kick over the wall and across the keeper with only the post keeping the game goalless.

But Smith was the man catching the eye in fellow forward Sam Higgins’ absence. With four goals to his name already this season, Smith made and finished his next goal.

Darting into the box from the left, he was brought down by Ryan Mahal and he stepped up confidently to dispatch the penalty.

And he was making the most of his chances, as the next one in the match also brought a goal, and once again it was all from his own creation.

Quick feet in central midfield bamboozled the visiting midfield, as he beat three and burst forward only to be brought down by Matt Smart.

Having already hit the post with one free-kick, he was only going to shoot and it proved a good choice, as his daisy cutter beat the wall and the despairing Louis Wells in goal.

Tom Wraight, pushed back to left-back from his usual midfield role, was causing Mahal a world of problems and a fine run from the former Witham man should have seen Smith score his hat-trick, but he sliced over when well placed.

It only took Rocks five minutes to get into their swing in the second-half. And it was a moment to remember for Anderson. The teenager, fresh from the Rocks youth-set, celebrated his first start of the season with his first goal in the league.

George Craddock sent in a fine cross and the onrushing midfielder volleyed home.

That looked like that was it, although Leatherhead had other ideas and they pulled a goal back out of nothing with 35 minutes left to play, as Richard Avery shot spectacularly into the top corner with Lidakevicius rooted to the spot.

And when Jerry Nnamani scored from a tight angle after Leatherhead had hit the post with back-to-back efforts, it really was game on.

Rocks got back into the game, albeit without threatening in forward areas, and with 15 minutes left, Leatherhead had pulled level.

Substitute Josh Gallagher picked up a ball that had dropped to him in the box and he slotted home smartly.

At this point, only one side looked like winning it, and it came as little surprise when the goal came. A fine cross-field pass from Adam Green dropped to Long on the right hand corner of the area and shot over Lidakevicius into the top corner.

Substitute Sammy Knott came close when his header was cleared off the line having hit the post, but the drama went down to the final whistle.

With seconds left on the clock, Honesty broke through, took a touch and powered high into the net to give Rocks a point.

 

East Thurrock United: Lidakevicus, Sammons, Wraight, Peddie, Wood, Anderson, Bryant (Phillips), Craddock, Walker (Honesty), Gilbey (Knott), Smith

Other results: National League South: Sutton United 2–2 Concord Rangers

Ryman Premier League: Canvey Island 3-2 Hendon, Dulwich Hamlet 1–0 Billericay

Ryman One North: Great Wakering Rovers 1–2 AFC Sudbury