Thurrock continue fine run with Ship Lane success

7:24pm Saturday 23rd February 2008

Comments (0)   Have your say »

Thurrock 2, Hayes & Yeading 0

GOALS by Matt Bodkin and David Bryant were enough to give the home side all three points and maintain their fine run of results at Ship Lane since the turn of the year.

Despite the victory and three Blue Square points, results elsewhere mean the play-off places remain a tantalising nine points off, but Thurrock die-hards will just be relieved that they are watching a consistently winning team and the relegation battle of last season is merely a distant memory rather than a repeating reality.

Hayes came to Thurrock in determined mood and had the first real effort of the game when Charlie Mapes rattled the cross bar from 20 yards.

Moments later, at the other end, Bodkin's half volley appeared to be flying over before dipping at the last second and hitting the stanchion.

Further Hayes and Yeading pressure saw Kieran Knight's long range effort sail over the bar, and that was followed by a mis-cue from Josh Scott when he was well-placed.

Bryant had a penalty appeal waved away by the referee before Matt Paine's last ditch challenge on Scott ensured the game remained goalless.

Scott then almost capitalised on a mix up between Tim Cole and David Blackmore in the Thurrock defence but poked his shot wide.

As the first half came to an end, the home side began to dominate and could have broke the deadlock but first Bryant, and then Bai Mas Lettejallow dragged shots wide. Then against the run of play, Bryant cleared Danny Allen-Page's header off the line.

The deadlock was finally broken in the 61st minute after great work from Bryant on the left saw him break clear. His shot was parried by Delroy Preddie into the path of Bodkin who tapped the ball in from close range.

Bodkin could have made it two five minutes later as he latched onto Bryant's through ball, but his early shot went agonisingly wide.

With Che Stadhart, Bryant and Lettejallow chasing and winning every ball, along with the composure of Paine, the Fleet looked like holding out for the one-goal win before eventually killing off the game at the death when good work from Stadhart set up Bryant who slotted home to cap another fine display.

Thurrock: Blackmore, Flynn, Clark, Paine, Cole, Lettejallow, Orilonishe (89, Hughes), Stadhart, Lincoln, Bryant, Bodkin.

Other Blue Square South results: Basingstoke 1 Bromley 1; Bishop's Stortford 2, Weston-super 2; Bognor R 1, Maidenhead U 2; Braintree T 1, Havant & W 0; Dorchester T 0, Sutton U 0; Eastbourne B 0, Cambridge C 1; Eastleigh 3, Welling U 1; Hampton 0, Fisher A 2; St Albans C 1, Bath City 2.

Blue Square South, Up to and inc Sat, Feb 23

		P	W	D	L	F	A	+/-	Pts
1	Eastbourne Borough	30	19	8	3	62	23	+39	65
2	Lewes	29	19	6	4	60	22	+38	63
3	Hampton & Richmond Borough	30	15	8	7	60	42	+18	53
4	Bath City	30	14	10	6	44	22	+22	52
5	Eastleigh	31	15	7	9	57	43	+14	52
6	Fisher Athletic	31	16	4	11	49	45	+4	52
7	Bishop's Stortford	30	15	6	9	59	43	+16	51
8	Newport County	27	12	10	5	46	30	+16	46
9	Bromley	32	13	7	12	62	55	+7	46
10	Braintree Town	29	12	8	9	32	28	+4	44
11	Basingstoke Town	32	12	8	12	46	56	-10	44
12	Thurrock	30	12	7	11	41	47	-6	43
13	Havant & Waterlooville	27	12	6	9	39	40	-1	42
14	Hayes & Yeading United	31	11	9	11	49	54	-5	42
15	Cambridge City	30	9	9	12	47	49	-2	36
16	Maidenhead United	31	8	10	13	42	42	0	34
17	Weston-super-Mare	28	8	6	14	39	53	-14	30
18	Bognor Regis Town	31	7	7	17	37	57	-20	28
19	Welling United	29	6	6	17	27	50	-23	24
20	Dorchester Town	30	4	8	18	30	55	-25	20
21	Sutton United	31	4	8	19	25	60	-35	20
22	St Albans City	31	4	8	19	26	63	-37	20