Bryant hits winner for Thurrock

9:17pm Monday 24th March 2008

Comments (0)   Have your say »

Maidenhead United 1, Thurrock 2

THURROCK bounced back from the disappointment of drawing at home to struggling St Albans on Saturday by adding to Maidenhead's woes.

Their hosts are now on the brink of the Blue Square South relegation battle while Fleet sit comfortably in mid table and they can enjoy the run-in free of last season's nerve-streching worries.

Manny Williams gave Maidenhead the lead after 25 minutes. Thurrock equalised a minute before half time when Greg Lincoln converted a penalty after David Bryant had been brought down in the area. And it was Bryant who scored the winning goal 10 minutes from time.

The visitors almost took the lead as early as the third minute. Matt Bodkin was fouled on the edge of the penalty box and Greg Lincoln's free kick struck the crossbar with Maidenhead keeper Chris Tardif well beaten.

Thurrock continued to press with Matt Paine heading over following a Lincoln corner.

It was however, the home side who took the lead in the 25th minute. Williams's shot on goal was too good for Fleet keeper David Blackmore to hold on to and the ball was quickly cleared for a corner on the left. Ashley Smith's corner was dropped by Blackmore under pressure and Williams was able to fire home from close range.

A minute before half time Thurrock equalised. Bryant worked his way into the box to be brought down by Jermaine Hinds. Lincoln's spot kick into the roof of the net gave Tardif no chance.

In the second half it was again the visitors who did the majority of the attacking. Tardif saved well from Bai Mas Lettejallow and moments later made an even better save from a point blank header by Bryant after good work by Lincoln.

Ten minutes from time Tardif was to turn from hero to villain as he kicked a back pass straight to Che Stadhart. Stadhart was able to pick out the unmarked Bryant who scored with ease.

The Magpies offered a little bit of late pressure from set pieces but the Fleet defence held firm to record a deserved victory.

Blue Square South, up to and inc Monday, March 24

		P	W	D	L	F	A	+/-	Pts
1	Eastbourne Borough	35	22	8	5	76	29	+47	74
2	Lewes	35	22	7	6	68	29	+39	73
3	Hampton & Richmond Borough	35	17	11	7	69	46	+23	62
4	Eastleigh	35	18	7	10	68	50	+18	61
5	Bishop's Stortford	35	17	7	11	66	49	+17	58
6	Braintree Town	35	16	9	10	44	35	+9	57
7	Fisher Athletic	36	17	5	14	54	57	-3	56
8	Bath City	35	14	13	8	47	29	+18	55
9	Newport County	33	15	10	8	54	38	+16	55
10	Bromley	36	16	7	13	70	58	+12	55
11	Havant & Waterlooville	33	15	8	10	50	45	+5	53
12	Hayes & Yeading United	36	13	10	13	60	63	-3	49
13	Thurrock	34	13	8	13	47	53	-6	47
14	Cambridge City	35	12	10	13	60	58	+2	46
15	Basingstoke Town	36	12	9	15	49	66	-17	45
16	Bognor Regis Town	35	9	9	17	43	59	-16	36
17	Maidenhead United	34	8	10	16	44	53	-9	34
18	Welling United	36	9	6	21	35	61	-26	33
19	Weston-super-Mare	33	8	7	18	42	66	-24	31
20	St Albans City	35	7	9	19	36	65	-29	30
21	Dorchester Town	34	5	10	19	32	60	-28	25
22	Sutton United	35	4	8	23	26	71	-45	20