Thurrock welcomed newly promoted Haringey Borough to Ship Lane today with manager Mark Stimson keeping his starting line-up unchanged from Tuesday’s FA Cup victory with the exception of Lewis Spencer returning from injury and Joe Christou absent through suspension.
The game started brightly for Thurrock with Reece Morgan surviving a wild challenge before passing to Jordan Clark whose shot was well over the bar.
Shortly afterwards a dreadful back pass from Borough’s Cornel Cornea was pounced on by Charlie Stimson who drew keeper Ashley Harris before attempting to lob him. Harris stood tall and got strong finger tips to the ball to deflect onto the bar for a corner – except the officials inexplicably awarded a goal kick. Things got worse as from the goal kick Shawn Beveney was given a sight at goal which he took beating Connor Wheatley to give Haringey the lead [0-1]
Thurrock stuck to their game plan and were soon peppering the box. Aaron Waters won the ball in midfield and passed out to David Cowley on the wing, Cowley beat his man and sent a low ball to the near post which was taken off Stimson’s toes for a corner. Cowley’s corner was punched clear and came back to Cowley who swung in a cross which skimmed Stimson’s head and nearly crept past Harris who first blocked with his feet before gathering into his hands.
Just after half hour on the clock and Charlie Stimson was bundled to the ground in the box but the challenge was deemed fair and the penalty shouts were waved away but two minutes later it was a different story. David Cowley was once again provider to Charlie Stimson who played back slightly short to Lewwis Spence. Spence challenged with two Borough defenders and was clattered to the ground. This time there was no hesitation as the ref pointed to the spot. The crowd were then treated to a wonderful display of gamesmanship as first of all Ashley Harris stood on the spot talking with Jordan Clark whilst the referee dealt with two Borough players, after taking his position between the sticks he then queried the position of the ball but it was all water off Clark’s back as he sent Harris the wrong way and stroked the ball home for the equaliser. [1-1]
Half Time: Thurrock 1 Haringey Borough 1
Thurrock wasted no time in extending their lead. Inside five minutes the ball came to Ross Wall at the edge of the D with his back to goal, Wall touched it out to Lewwis Spence who took a step to his left and then hit a swerving shot inside the post. [2-1]
Remi Sutton played the ball into Jordan Clark who was scythed down but the ball ran through to Ross Wall in space on the edge of the area but the whistle went before any opportunity to take the advantage was given. The free kick was taken short and played one touch in and around the box before a shot was taken straight into the keepers arms.
Ross Wall sent through a ball for Charlie Stimson to run onto but he had to stretch just a little too much under pressure from the defence to get any power on his shot. Remi intercepted the ball and brought it to the Borough box and laid it out to Cowley on the left hand side, another low dangerous cross was gathered by Harris just in front of the waiting Stimson.
The game wasn’t won yet and Remi Sutton had to scamper across from his left back position to the right hand side of the box to clear away the danger but a minute later Danny Ailey hit an inswinging shot from distance, Weatherley’s view of the ball was obscured and although he got close to the ball it crept between his hand and the post to level the score [2-2]
New signing Michael Toner came on for Kamarl Duncan and Leslie Thompson replaced Charlie Stimson straight afterwards as Thurrock set about taking control again. Reece Morgan and Leslie Thompson combined down the right wing but the cross was cut out. Aaron Waters put the ball onto Jordan Clark’s head and his looping header beat the keeper but came back off the bar, Ross Wall reacted superbly to get a toe onto the loose ball but he was unable to keep it on target.
Haringey were keeping Thurrock honest and it took a point blank save from Connor Wheatley to keep honours even. Thurrock came straight back down the park and Wall jinked his way in the box and won a corner which cleared out to Aaron Waters to hit just over before he was substituted for Jason Fontaine. Reece Morgan put a cross from the right wing to the back post, Fontaine shouted for the ball and despite being the smallest man in the box headed powerfully home to score with his first touch of the game. [3-2]
Fontaine and Thompson worked hard to keep the Haringey defence pinned in by the corner flag which allowed Lewwis Spence to claim the ball and cross to Ross Wall to slide the ball just wide of the goal. Spence was in the area again moments later but the ball was cleared out to Remi Sutton who picked a ball which got unkindly caught under Ross Wall’s feet.
Haringey still weren’t out of this game and should have done better with a free header at the back post but the last chance came to Spence whose tricky feet saw him leave three players in his wake but the cross came to nothing.
