Thurrock slipped to their fifth consecutive defeat in a game they could quite easily have won. Once again Thurrock conceded in the first ten minutes, the third time in just five matches. Matt Groves was sent clear and chipped over the onrushing Glen Knight. Thurrock responded immediately when a great cross by Mark Janney was turned onto the crossbar by Garry Cross. Thurrock continued to press and had a penalty appeal turned down after 30 minutes for a handball but it would probably have been harsh on the home side as the ball hit the hand rather than the hand hitting the ball. The pressure continued to build and Cross shot just wide with the aid of a deflection although the officials only gave a goal kick. Debutant Barry Moore was unlucky not to level the scores when his twist and shot was saved low down. With five minutes to go in the half a horrendous two-footed foul on Dave Collis from Jermyn saw him receive a yellow card when there certainly was a case for a straight red. As the half was drawing to a close Dorchester nearly doubled their lead when Groves shot just wide after an excellent one-two.

Thurrock came out for the second half with the same purpose and captain Jimmy McFarlane headed just over from a Collis corner and twenty minutes into the half debutant substitute David Sadler headed over from an excellent Janney centre. Cross was influential in the build up with a great tackle and pass to Janney. The pressure was really starting to build on the home side and Kris Lee was unlucky to see his well struck volley saved well by Dorchester keeper Bradshaw. Minutes later Lee’s shot was once again saved when he probably should have done better. Dorchester always looked like they could threaten on the break and an unchallenged header went just wide of the goal from a well delivered corner. Thurrock didn’t learn from that and two minutes later Jermyn, who was lucky to be on the pitch, headed home after confusion in the Thurrock defence. That took the sting out of Thurrock although Lee’s header was handballed on the line by a defender in the last minute but the outcome of the game would not have been affected.

 Man of the Match: John Purdie 

Thurrock: Knight, Collis, Goodfellow (Sadler 45), Purdie, McFarlane ©, Heffer, Moore, Janney, Cross, Harper (Edwards 79), Goddard (Lee 45).