East Thurrock United 1-1 Wingate & Finchley

From Rookery Hill

Ryman Premier League

 

TOM Wraight headed home a late equaliser to earn injury depleted East Thurrock United a point against Wingate & Finchley.

The midfielder was on the spot after Wingate had seemed set to leave with all three points after Karl Oliyide had opened the scoring.

The first-half was a largely uneventful affair, with Mitchell Gilbey’s off target effort one of few before the goal came.

Oliyide exchanged passes with Alfie Bartram and shot home, after a poor throw from home goalkeeper Lukas Lidakevicius had invited pressure on the home side’s defence.

Into the second-half, Gilbey was denied a penalty after he was apparently barged over in the box, as George Craddock sent a long range effort wide of the target.

Lidakevicius kept it at 1-0 as Bartram broke through, only for the Lithuanian to keep out his low cross-shot as well as the follow-up from the onrushing Lee Barney.

And Rocks got the point they felt they deserved in the closing stages.

Ben Wood, a composed figure in the middle of the park throughout, crossed for Wraight and his header arced into the top corner.

Wingate lost their discipline late on when Ahmet Rifat seemingly punched Wood in response to a tackle. Rifat was sent off to complete a frustrating afternoon for the visitors.

 

East Thurrock: Lidakevicius, Miller, Peddie, Scott, Hayles, Wood, Newby (Honesty), Craddock, Yusuff, Gilbey (Ruel), Wraight