VCD Athletic 1–3 East Thurrock United

From Oakwood

Ryman Premier League

 

EAST Thurrock climbed to within a point of the play-off places with a hard-fought 3-1 win over VCD Athletic tonight.

A brace from Tom Wraight plus a strike from Sam Higgins ensured East Thurrock took home the points, against a side struggling down in 23rd position.

Rocks handed a start to second-choice goalkeeper Lewis Lockyer, with Lukas Lidakevicius suffering with flu, and he enjoyed a steady evening in the away goal.

It was the home goalkeeper, Tom Hadler, that was tested throughout the match, as only some inspired saves kept the scoreline down.

East Thurrock took the lead on the half hour mark through one of the star men this season. Wraight slammed home a Higgins cross to score his 10th goal of the season since his summer move from Witham Town to put the away side in charge.

Higgins doubled the lead with his 21st of the campaign shortly before the hour mark, burying a long range drive into the corner, to give East Thurrock some breathing space.

Although Donovan Simmonds halved that deficit with 20 minutes remaining, scoring emphatically from close range.

But Wraight added a terrific third to hand Rocks the points. The midfielder picked up the ball, swivelled and arrowed a shot into the goal to lift Rocks to sixth, just a point off the play-off positions.

 

East Thurrock United: Lockyer, Sammons, Ruel (Scott), Peddie, Hayles, Wood, Yusuff (Newby), Craddock, Higgins, Smith (Robson), Wraight