East Thurrock United 1–1 Concord Rangers

(Marlow 58’: Norman 45’)

From the FutureFuel Stadium

National League South

EAST Thurrock United came from behind for the second time in a week to earn a point against Concord Rangers.

Cameron Norman had headed the Beach Boys into a first half injury-time lead, but Ben Marlow ensured it was honours even come the final whistle.

Rocks boss John Coventry had been critical of his team’s performance in the reverse fixture on Boxing Day, with the Beach Boys unfortunate not to take the points that day.

The first chance came from an unexpected source. Lee Burns, playing in a more advanced midfield role, was played in by Joe Gardner but his effort was saved down low by Bailey Vose.

Sam Higgins saw a strike from inside the penalty area deflected wide by former team-mate James White, with Tom Wraight, playing at left-back, heading narrowly off target from the resulting corner.

But Concord were proving resilient in defence, with White and Norman not unduly tested.

Higgins came within inches of meeting a corner five minutes from half-time but it was a first half that never truly ignited until injury-time.

A free-kick was awarded to the visitors, with Lyle Della-Verde’s dipping free-kick from a wide position was angled past Lukas Lidakevicius by Norman.

Higgins smashed wide in the opening exchanges of the second half when he really should have hit the target, with Della-Verde lashing past the near post from long range up the other end.

East Thurrock drew level 13 minutes into the half. Reece Harris and James Walker linked up well, with the latter cutting back effectively and Marlow driving home from eight yards.

Norman headed Harris’ centre off the line as the pressure on the away goal grew, with Higgins finding the net only for the celebrations to be halted after the referee spotted a previous infringement.

Concord’s best bet was on the break. Jordan Chiedozie left Michael Clark on the seat of his pants but Joe Ellul was on hand to make a goal-saving block.

Lidakevicius was the next to halt Chiedozie, with the former Cambridge United man’s 20-yard hit tipped over impressively.

Vose pushed Higgins’ strike over as the game entered the final 10 minutes, and Walker’s near post effort did not have the power to trouble the keeper as it ended all square.

East Thurrock United: Lidakevicius, Osifuwa, Wraight, Clark, Ellul, Burns, Harris, Marlow, Higgins, Walker (Honesty), Gardner (Freiter)

Concord Rangers: Vose, Girdlestone, Wyatt, Dowie. Norman, Collins, Stokes, White, Chiedozie, Cawley, Della-Verde