By Jack Harland

EAST Thurrock United manager John Coventry insists nothing changes despite his team hitting the top of the Ryman Premier League.

Rocks reached the summit after a 4-2 win against Met Police at Rookery Hill – a game in which Sam Higgins scored his 200th goal for the club – and now have 12 games of the season left to stay there.

“There’s no pressure on being top,” said Coventry. “It means nothing at this stage of the season.

“We could lose our next two or three games and be sixth or seventh, so we’re just focusing on the next game.”

The final result against Met Police would appear to be comfortable, but it was not without some nerves for East Thurrock who were leading 3-0 before being pegged back to 3-2.

Higgins then missed a penalty before he nodded home late on to make the game safe and celebrate his 200th Rocks goal in just 232 appearances.

“Sam’s been massively important for us over the last couple of seasons and getting 200 goals is a massive achievement. But the players around him have also been important and we’ve had a good squad to assist Sam,” said Coventry.

“He missed his penalty but he was able to grab the goal to make the game safe, but it was far from comfortable.”

Rocks went 1-0 up when Tom Wraight’s cross was turned home by former Southend United man James Walker who then doubled his tally with a header on the half hour mark.

Higgins got his first of the game five minutes before the break when he powerfully drove home a free kick, and that looked to be game over.

But Met Police got one back just before the interval through Leon Smith and, not long after the re-start, they got to within one goal when Joe Turner converted a penalty after Smith had been fouled.

Rocks held their nerve, however, to fight back and, despite missing his penalty, Higgins was on the spot to head home Simon Peddie’s cross late on in the match to seal the three points.

Rocks face fellow title contenders Bognor Regis Town at Rookery Hill on Saturday.