THREE AND EASY FOR THURROCK

There were more bookings taken in this game than at The Hotel itself! It was a night when the referee had more cards on show than Maverick!!

In a blitz of yellow and red cards Harrow found themselves reduced to 9 men after just 20 minutes had passed. It all began when Thurrock midfielder - Steve Heffer had been fouled and as he picked himself up he was pushed and shoved by a posse of Harrow players that ignited a crazy few minutes.

Off went McKenna, Off went Norman, Off went manager Stein. This all lead to a lengthy stoppage and on a chilly night it was hardly what the players needed.

It seemed that every time a challenge was made the referee brandished a card. Understandably, this took the edge off of what had started out as a bright and entertaining game and the players became nervous to put a foot wrong.

In the first minute Fleet could have taken the lead when Jeran Meah saw his header go over the crossbar. The effervescent Cliff Akurang was soon involved in the best moves and after making one of his characteristic runs he delivered a superb cross which found Martyn Lawrence in the six yard who headed just over.

Thurrock used their two-man advantage to the full and began to ask some serious questions of the Harrow players resolve. To be fair they did work hard and made it very difficult for the Thurrock attackers.

However, just 13 minutes into the second half and Thurrock were ahead. It came by way of a penalty and up stepped the free scoring Akurang to fire home from the spot.

Six minutes later it was game over when new boy – Ross Wareham scored on his home debut. The Fleet youngster took full advantage of a goalmouth scramble to rifle the ball home from close range. To their credit the nine men of Harrow never gave up and continued to work and scrap for every ball they could.

With just 5 minutes remaining the referee awarded Thurrock a free kick and from 25 yards out Dave Collis sent the ball into the top left-hand corner of the Harrow goal to put the game out of reach.