East Thurrock 4-1 VCD Athletic

From Rookery Hill

Ryman Premier League

EAST Thurrock United confirmed their place in the end of season play-offs with a 4-1 win over already-relegated VCD Athletic.

A brace from defender Joe Ellul came after goals from Tom Wraight and Kris Newby and complete a good afternoon's work.

Rocks came into the match as overwhelming favourites to extend their winning run to four games and it took less than two minutes for them to make their mark.

Neat build-up down the right saw Sam Higgins sell the defender a dummy sending James Walker clear. The burly forward cut inside after reaching the byline and crossed for Wraight to prod beyond the goalkeeper.

VCD may have been expected to crumble, with their relegation already confirmed, but they hit back almost immediately. An innocuous looking tug in the penalty area was penalised and former Rocks man L’Heureux Menga smashed beyond the reach of Lukas Lidakevicius.

The next chance of the game was another 10 minutes in coming, with Higgins choosing to shoot rather than square to the unmarked Walker and Max Huxter made the save.

Lidakevicius had to be at his best to tip over a long range strike from former Billericay Town forward Ricky Sappleton, with the resulting corner blocked on the line by Ryan Sammons.

Walker shot inches wide for the hosts but they were to get a shot in the arm when VCD were reduced to 10 men. Derek Duncan was involved in a fracas with Kris Newby with the former dismissed for raising his arm.

But Rocks were struggling to break down the 10 men, who were posing a threat of their own.

All square at the break, Higgins was denied early in the second half with Wraight again kept out by Huxter.

But just after the hour mark Rocks did have the lead. With a VCD player off the field receiving treatment, a deep cross by Higgins beat the last defender and Newby tapped into the net.

Rocks were on top after the interval although the result wasn’t wrapped up until the final 15 minutes.

A deep corner from the impressive George Craddock found Ellul at the far post and he headed home.

And the centre-half doubled his account for the afternoon when a Brandon Scott cross was met by Ellul and he powered the ball into the goal.

East Thurrock United: Lidakevicius, Sammons (Scott), Knott, Ellul (Peddie), Hayles, Wood, Newby, Craddock, Higgins, Walker, Wraight

VCD Athletic: Hexter, Tchonang, Proberts, Avery, Bruce, Ricardo, Bankole, Duncan, Appleton, Gordon-Young, Menga