EAST Thurrock United veteran Ben Wood is hoping to cause a few more surprises this season…although he is hoping defeat at fierce rivals Grays Athletic tomorrow is not one of them.

Wood has played in 30 of Rocks’ matches already this season and has only missed an impressive four minutes in the last 25 games – not a bad record for a 37-year-old.

Manager John Coventry makes no bones about the fact that Wood is the “best signing he has ever made” in his eight years in charge at Rookery Hill.

And the defender-turned-midfielder wants to ensure Coventry’s faith is well rewarded come the end of the season, starting with a good result at Grays tomorrow.

“Matches against Grays are always a bit niggly,” admitted Wood. “There is a bit of history between the two and it is a derby so the boys are really looking forward to it and we are confident.

“Grays are always difficult to play against and although the form guide is in our favour we aren’t taking anything for granted.

“I am more surprised that I am playing games than anything else,” added Wood. “John has put me in midfield recently and I am really enjoying it. At the start of the season I asked John if he wanted me as I know he wanted to give it (the league) a really good go this year.

“But I am grateful he did want me and that I am in the team. I just want to help as much as I can.”

Wood, a firefighter, was part of the team that made the play-offs in 2013 and the versatile midfielder said he wanted to repeat the feat this year.

Rocks looked a good bet to finish in the top five last term only for a rotten finish to curtail those hopes, but he believes the team is better equipped this time around.

“We are in really good form at the moment and we don’t fear any team,” he said. “That said we also know how quickly things can change in this league. We have been there before and that could benefit us as the season goes on.

“We thought we might be in with a chance last year but we had a small squad and that took its toll in the end.

“We have got a lot of players back in the last few weeks and we are confident.”