Thurrock 4-1 Great Wakering Rovers

From Ship Lane

Ryman One North

By Dan Thurogood

 

A RONNIE Winn brace helped seal the points for Thurrock against Great Wakering as they continued their play-off push.

A goal in each half, either side of a Wakering equaliser, was enough before the points were wrapped up with just a few minutes remaining.

Gary Ansell’s Wakering could not sustain enough pressure as the home side ran out comfortable winners in the end, with former Canvey Island youngster Ronnie Winn netting a brace.

Wakering, who lost the reverse fixture by the same score line, started brightly but play-off hopefuls Thurrock took the lead.

A low ball into the six yard box by Winn slid past goalkeeper Adam Seal and found Junior Baker unmarked at the back post. Baker took a touch before tapping into the net past despairing defender Bradley Vaughan.

The home side were awarded a penalty by referee Scott Williams after a shove from Vaughan on Winn just before the break.

Remi Sutton, on his 100th appearance for Fleet, had scored but the play was pulled back. And Fleet were left frustrated as Agombar was denied by Seal who dived low down to his right to keep the ball out.

And Wakering hit back on the stroke of the 45th minute.

Full-back Worrell scored directly from a corner, as keeper Rhys Madden misjudged the flight of ball and the ball swirled into the top corner.

Only a few minutes into the second-half, Thurrock restored their lead.

An effort from David Cowley was parried by Seal, but the ball fell straight to the onrushing Winn who tapped home from a few yards out.

And the same man ended any hope of a Wakering comeback when he smashed home from six yards after a goal mouth scramble. A corner was initially put in by Cowley and, after Seal had tipped onto the post, the ball fell to Winn and he finished with aplomb.

Charlie Cole added the icing on the cake as Sutton’s cross was headed home at the back post by the substitute to round off the win.

And Fleet boss Mark Stimson felt the goal his side conceded on the stroke of half-time actually helped the home side.

“I knew at least we would be fully concentrated in the second-half and it may have woken us up a bit,” he said.

“I feel the penalty incident could have been a red for a goal scoring opportunity but, overall, I am very pleased with an important win.

“Due to a few injuries we’ve had to throw some kids into the team but they’ve been playing like men and I’m pleased for them.”

 

Thurrock: Madden, Morgan, Olafunmishe, Baker, Sutton, Goode, Agombar, Gleed, Winn, Cowley, Wall