Kandol lights up derby clash

            Thurrock eased to an easy victory against Grays at Ship Lane last night. After a scrappy opening in which both sides struggled to control the game Thurrock took the lead after just eight minutes. A ball forward was passed back to Capleton, only for TK to block the keeper’s clearance and then roll the ball into the empty net. The Grays fans that had been in great voice before the game were quickly silenced. Thurrock looked for a second goal and were unlucky when Bowes’ shot was blocked.

            Grays then laid siege to the Thurrock goal, with Gothard under pressure, tipping one cross behind for a corner when going backwards. A succession of corners were well defended by the Thurrock back line. Jimmy Mcfarlane was then booked for a tackle on a Grays attacker. Thurrock saw out the last ten minutes of the half comfortably with the central midfield duo of Heffer and Howard winning many tackles in the middle of the park.

            It was Grays that started the second half well, Purdie was booked for a innocuous challenge twenty yards from goal and the resulting free kick was deflected onto the bar with Goths beaten.

            Having dealt with the pressure well, Thurrock promptly went up the other end and scored. Akurang was fouled by the touchline and Collis swung in a wonderful free kick which was headed in by Akurang. Two minutes later Thurrock nearly increased their lead. A corner centred was headed down by TK only for it to bounce over the bar.

            Grays were desperately trying to get back in the game and had the ball in the net after 70 minutes only for it to be disallowed for a foul. As the game got scrappy Heffer was booked for a foul and neither side were able to get control of the game due to the number of fouls given by the referee.

            With fifteen minutes left on the clock TK headed straight at Capleton from eight yards out after good work by Akurang. Three minutes later Simon Martin shot just wide after an excellent flick by TK after Collis’ free kick. Thurrock then slowed the game down with three substitutions in the last ten minutes. There was one last chance for Thurrock when TK went clear in the dying seconds only to be denied by Capleton with a great save.

            Another excellent team performance by the boys, moving up to third in the table and hopefully pushing all the way to finish second.

Man of the Match: Tresor Kandol

Thurrock: Gothard, Purdie, Collis, Davidson, McFarlane, Howard (Broom 86) Heffer, Akurang (Allen90), Broom, Martin (Linger80), Kandol.