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Thurrock 4, Eastleigh 1

THURROCK wrecked ten men Eastleigh's play-off dreams with an emphatic Blue Square South victory that capped an exciting second half to the season that promises much for the future.

Last season Fleet suffered a nervous last day and only just avoided relegation in a nail-biting finale.

This campaign manager Hakan Hayrettin has overcome the loss of top goalscorer Wes Thomas and moulded a team together that flirted with the play-offs. A brief dip in form cost them that opportunity but spectacular wins in the closing two matches at Newport County and at home today show they are a team with real potential.

Not that it looked that good at the start as Eastleigh started the game the brighter of the two sides with Chris Piper and Mark Marshall particularly threatening down the flanks, and the first chance was created by Piper but Ashley Vickers headed over the bar.

Moments later, Piper again found space down the right but this time his cross was headed over by Andy Forbes.

In the 19th minute, Thurrock Supporters' Player of the Year Che Stadhart met Kenny Clark's long ball to beat Jason Matthews in the air but his effort rolled agonisingly wide of the open goal.

With Eastleigh looking unlikely to penetrate the Fleet's back four, the away side resulted in long range efforts with Marshall, Forbes and Karl Murray all testing David Blackmore in the Thurrock goal.

In the 36th minute the deadlock was finally broken when Fola Orilonishe's cross from the right was headed home by Matt Bodkin.

Three minutes later and it was more heartache for the visitors, and in particular Anthony Riviere.

Another Thurrock counter attack saw Bai Mas Lettejallow find Orilonishe on the overlap. His cross was half volleyed goal bound by Stadhart only to be denied by the hand of Riviere who was shown a straight red card. Up stepped David Bryant but the resulting spot kick was saved by Jason Matthews.

With the extra man, Thurrock began to dominate possession and with the clock ticking down, Bryant made amends for his spot-kick miss as he turned provider for Orilonishe who smashed the ball into the near post top corner from 8 yards.

Unlike a dejected Eastleigh, Thurrock returned from the half time team talk with much of the same, and in the 49th minute extended the lead to three as Stadhart got his just deserves, heading home Bodkin's cross.

Eastleigh made a triple change hoping to get back into the game, and in the 65th minute substitute Steve Watts' left foot shot from the edge of the 18 yard box found its way into the bottom corner of the net.

Thurrock substitute Alex Read was given two good opportunities but failed to capitalise on the time and space he found himself in. Lettejallow also had a great chance to score after a Cruyff-like-turn but his close range shot was palmed out by Matthews for a corner.

Having returned from Newport last Monday with a 4-1 victory, Thurrock ensured that they dismissed another Play Off contender by the same margin as Stadhart's 89th minute through ball was smashed across goal by Bodkin and into the net.

With the game all but over, Thurrock pushed for a fifth and when Bodkin crossed to Stadhart, the front man could only volley high over the bar.

Thurrock: Blackmore, Flynn, Clark, Swaine (76, Taylor), Paine, Lettejallow, Orilonishe, Anderson, Stadhart, Bryant (66, Read), Bodkin

Blue Square South: Final table

7:43pm Saturday 26th April 2008

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