Whitehawk 2-3 East Thurrock United

(Abdulla 45’, Mills 79’: Higgins 4’, Gardner 15’, Wraight 25’)

From the Enclosed Stadium

National League South

A QUICK-FIRE start from East Thurrock United was enough to hold off a late Whitehawk comeback and take all three points back to Essex.

Manager John Coventry was hopeful the Hawks would have one eye on Monday’s FA Cup first round replay and that was seemingly the case.

Rocks came storming out of the blocks against Whitehawk and roared into an early lead. With four minutes gone, some good play around the edge of the penalty area saw the ball fall to Sam Higgins and he drove home his second of the league season.

Danny Mills was kept out by Lukas Lidakevicius in the away goal but with 15 minutes played the score-line was doubled.

Joe Gardner burst through after a neat through ball and the winger had the composure to round the goalkeeper and slide the ball home.

Two became three 10 minutes later and it was a well thought-out free-kick by Tom Wraight. With the wall jumping, Wraight powered low and hard with the goalkeeper rooted to the spot.

Lidakevicius kept out several more half chances as Whitehawk looked for a route back into the match and they got one on the stroke of half-time.

Ahmed Abdulla scored on the stroke of half-time with a powerful drive into the far corner.

After the break, Higgins was well denied by the home stopper while Chris Assombalonga coming close on more than one occasion.

Mills pulled another goal back as the pressure grew East Thurrock United: Lidakevicius, Burns, Sammons, Clark, Ellul, Ferdinand, Harris, Marlow, Higgins, Gardner (Craddock), Wraight