THURROCK STRETCH UNBEATEN RUN TO EIGHT

A good performance today saw Thurrock move to 5^th in the table. Thurrock started brightly, with Jimmy McFarlane heading in from 12 yards after one minute from a Dave Collis free kick. However, the linesman had flagged even though it was Kandol offside and was McFarlane not active. That was cast out of the mind five minutes later when Simon Martin scored from Kandol’s excellent flick. Thurrock were in the ascendancy now and looked like scoring many goals. Cliff Akurang got free on the left and played a good ball to Martin whose shot was well saved by Wilson in the Maidenhead goal. After 15 minutes good work from Martin led to a chance for Kandol who headed wide when well placed.

            The good work was undone when Dave Collis missed a chance to clear the danger and Costello nipped it and see the ball roll over the line.

            The lads didn’t let their heads drop and although they looked shaky at the back for the first time in a few weeks they managed to hold out, with even Akurang heading clear from inside the box. Thurrock scored again after 36 minutes, the goal was needed to settle the team down. Dave Collis made amends for the earlier mistake with an excellent free kick which was superbly headed home from ten yards out by TK even though his back was to the goal. Thurrock pressed hard to grab another before the break but TK’s header from Akurang’s cross only looped up into the keeper’s hands.

            The second half started scrappily with neither team able to control the game. After 54 minutes Thurrock secured a two goal lead. Martin was put clear through and although his shot was saved the rebound was put away by Akurang from the edge of the box with the keeper lying on the floor.

            Maidenhead then started to push Thurrock. A cross was put over and Jimmy McFarlane was fortunate that his header crept just wide of the post. From the resulting corner Gothard’s punch only reached the edge of the box, however he recovered well to save the shot which came back at him.

            With 15 minutes to go Thurrock had a golden chance to put the result beyond doubt. TK was put clean through and bent the ball around the keeper only to see the shot agonisingly go just past the post. After 80 minutes Akurang headed straight at the keeper after good work from Davidson. A minute later the three points were safe, Terry Bowes took the ball around the keeper and slotted home from a wide position. It was well deserved after an excellent performance by Bowes who had worked tirelessly all game up the flank. Thurrock saw the last ten minutes out comfortably, making three substitutions to break the flow of the game.

            Another good performance by the boys and hopefully this run can be carried over into the big derby game on Tuesday night.

Man of the match: Terry Bowes

Thurrock: Gothard, Purdie, Davidson, Collis, McFarlane, Howard, Heffer, Bowes (Raoul 89), Akurang, Martin (Broom 83), Kandol (Wilson)