Mugged
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Thurrock 1 - 2 Sutton United
Poole 71 Gray 32
Haycroft 57

Match photo's

With Kandol suspended and Akurang & Buffong out with injury, Colin was forced in to changing his strike force. In came Kris Lee, who missed the midweek win over Barking & East Ham Utd through illness, and Simon Martin who scored twice in the same game.

Thurrock started off much the brighter with Glenn Poole causing Sutton problems down the left. In the 16th minute a Sutton defender bravely blocked a low drive from Poole. A few minutes later Kris Lee had a shot deflected just wide, then again Poole came close with the Sutton keeper making a good save tipping the ball just wide.

With virtually their first attack of the game Sutton scored, Matt Gray striking the ball from just out side the area that somehow squirmed through Billy McMahon's fingers. Thurrock tried to come back straight away, with Kris Lee missing two chances within a couple of minutes, the first was a snap shot from about 15 yards just wide when well placed and the second when a Glenn Poole pass found Kris Lee unmarked 10 yards from goal but some how he managed to shoot  wide when scoring seemed easier.

There was still time for Simon Martin to get his head on a David Lee free kick which the keeper did well to keep out. Thurrock ended the half wondering how they were losing a game that they dominated so much.

Sutton seemed a little more fired up in the second half but were still unable to break down the rear guard of Jimmy MacFarlane and Richard Goddard. That was until the 57 minute when a mix up between McMahon and Goddard led to another Sutton goal.

Fleet seemed to have the wind knock out of their sails. Colin McBride changed the formation and the side around with the injured Simon Martin making way for Fernando Manuel and the infective Lee Hodges coming off to be replaced by Shane Thompson. Thurrock managed to re-exert their domination with their new 3-5-2 formation, which found Mark Goodfellow playing much further forward.

In the 71st minute Thurrock finally got what all their hard work deserved, Manuel picked up the ball 40 yards from goal turned the defender and played Glenn Poole in, who, after beating one man smashed the ball home.

Sutton went close with a couple of half chances, but fleet still looked like the more likely scorers, with Kris Lee missing a one on one and Manuel firing just over at full reach. In the last minute Manuel was put through by David Lee but unfortunately shot straight at the keeper.

Man of the Match: Glenn Poole

 Thurrock: McMahon, Collis, Goodfellow, McFarlane©, Goddard, Hodges (Thompson), Kirby, D. Lee, Poole, K. Lee ,Martin (Manuel)