East Thurrock United 0–1 Hungerford Town

From Rookery Hill

National League South

IT was an afternoon of frustration for East Thurrock United as their first ever match in the National League South ended in defeat.

Rocks were beaten 1-0 by Hungerford Town, as Nat Jarvis’ strike five minutes before half-time proved the difference.

Tom Wraight could have levelled in the closing stages, but his penalty was well saved by George Legg in the away goal.

East Thurrock manager John Coventry handed four debuts to summer recruits – Lee Burns, Michael Freiter, Michael Clark and Joe Gardner, and a second debut to Reece Harris – and it was Gardner who had the first shot although it was off target.

Garyn Preen struck wide on the 20-minute mark as the game struggled to catch alight, although Harris had a better chance 60 seconds later but his header was flicked wide of the far post.

Hungerford were growing into the match and had the ball in the net 10 minutes before half-time. A quick break saw the ball played into Nicholas Bignall, but he was flagged offside as he slipped the ball underneath Lukas Lidakevicius.

But Hungerford were to take the lead before the break. A neat counter-attack saw the ball slipped into Preen and, while his strike was kept out by Lidakevicius, Jarvis was on hand to slam home the loose ball.

A goal down after 45 minutes, Rocks should have been level two minutes into the second-half.

Fine wing play from Gardner saw the ball fired into the near post but James Walker could not beat George Legg from no more than two yards.

Rocks then had to dig in, as the side from Berkshire enjoyed their best spell of the match. Lidakevicius had to make two saves in two minutes from Bignall to keep it at 1-0, before the tables were almost turned.

Harris picked up the ball from 30 yards out and sent a terrific angled drive off the crossbar.

The game was growing fractious, as East Thurrock struggled to create clear-cut opportunities but they were presented a golden chance with 10 minutes remaining.

A Joe Ellul strike was blocked with an arm in the penalty area, with a penalty awarded but the usually-clinical Wraight was kept out by Legg, who guessed correctly to palm aside.

Ellul and Burns saw late headed chances come and go, but it was Hungerford's day.

East Thurrock United: Lidakevicius, Burns, M Clark (Sammons), Freiter, Ellul, Craddock (Honesty), Harris, Marlow, Walker, Gardner (Nesbitt), Wraight

Hungerford Town: Legg, Tyler, John, Day (Boardman), Williams, J Clark, Herring, Jarvis, Bignall (Brown), Preen