Match photo's

Thurrock played their first ever game on foreign soil at Newport and left after Spytty Park with three points after an excellent battling performance. The first fifteen minutes were spent with both teams were tentatively looking for an opening. That made the amazing goal scored by Bertie Brayley on the quarter hour even more breathtaking. Dave Collis’ free kick was headed across goal by Jimmy McFarlane and was met by Brayley in mid-air with a over head volley from his heel! A definite contender for Thurrock’s goal of the season. Thurrock started to boss the game and it was no surprise when the lead was doubled ten minutes later. County keeper Nathan Vaughan did not deal with Collis’ cross, Brayley hit the loose ball against the bar and Adam Parker headed the rebound into the open goal. The game got a little niggly after that and it was no surprise to see the first booking after 37 minutes when a Newport substitute committed a cynical foul on Steve Heffer. With five minutes left before the break Vaughan did well to hold onto McFarlane’s goal bound header. Just before the interval the game turned nasty. Kris Lee mistimed a challenge on County defender Andrew Thomas. As Lee lay on the floor he was pushed by Thomas who was then restrained by his Captain before he could continue his revenge. Lee was booked but remarkably Thomas was kept out of the referee’s notebook. A minute later Thomas continued his revenge with a poor, high challenge on Lee from behind. Lee flicked a leg out in petulance and both players were booked, a second in Lee’s case. Amazingly, the referee had booked Lee for retaliation but let Thomas’ go moments earlier. Thurrock trudged off at halt time with Colin McBride leading the vocal protests with the referee about the sending off.

The second half started slowly as the first and the only action of the first ten minutes was the substitution of Parker to be replaced by Danny Shipp. Newport started to get nasty as desperation set in. Newport’s Captain was booked for a late challenge on Glenn Poole and the number 3 was booked for a nasty challenge on the marauding John Purdie. From the latter challenge’s free kick Shipp’s volley was held at the second attempt by Vaughan. Newport got a goal back with fifteen minutes left. The number 7 turned Collis and pulled the ball across goal for Moralee to poke home past Andy Woodman in the Thurrock goal. Newport huffed and puffed but never made any clear cut chances as Thurrock held out for the three points knowing that a win against Redbridge next Saturday will guarantee a playoff place.

Man of the Match: Glenn Poole

Thurrock: Woodman, Collis, Davidson, Goddard, Purdie, McFarlane ©, Poole, Parker (Shipp 51), Heffer, Brayley (Fletcher 88), Lee