East Thurrock United 4 Blues 0

League leaders Leiston ended September as they began it, with a defeat. In only their second defeat of the season, Richard Wilkins’ side suffered what appears to be an emphatic heavy defeat but the match was closer than the scoreline suggests, albeit the Rocks were considerably more clinical where it mattered. The Essex side produced some quality finishing with Sam Higgins and Lewis Smith each sharing a brace of goals. Both sides came into the game on the back of impressive FA Cup victories at the weekend but it was East Thurrock who started the better of the sides and Alex Rossis had to be alert to block Lewis Smith’s ninth minute effort. Rossis, who recently returned to Victory Road from Harlow Town, was deputising for Ashlee Jones who was ill while Tom Winter came in for Billy Clark who was injured. The early pressure was all from the hosts who were seeking a first home League win of the campaign. After Smith’s early effort it was Sam Higgins who was next threatening but Alex Rossis produced a smart stop. The first real effort for the visitors almost brought an unlikely goal, Gareth Heath’s effort was cleared straight at Tom Winter but the rebound rolled wide of the post. Higgins, a regular thorn in the Blues side in previous meetings, was returning from injury and proving to be a handful. He thought he had fired the hosts deservedly ahead on 33 minutes from close range but the visitors were reprieved courtesy of an offside flag. But there was no stopping the Rocks leading scorer ten minutes before half time when he sent a tremendous volley crashing past a rooted-to-the-spot Alex Rossis and into the net via the post. Leiston responded well to going behind and a fine move ended with a John Sands header smacking against the crossbar. Moments later some patient build up ended with another chance for John Sands but this time he failed to hit the target, firing just over the bar.

HT – East Thurrock United 1 Blues 0

Despite trailing and in truth, deservedly so at the break, Leiston resumed with purpose and continued to play some tidy football. Home keeper Lucas Lidakevisius denied Leon Ottley-Gooch before the hosts grabbed a fortuitous second as Lewis Smith’s effort took a huge deflection and wrong footed Alex Rossis in the Leiston goal. The goal certainly lifted the home side and they moved even further ahead four minutes later and again through Lewis Smith. This time he needed no help via a deflection as his effort from outside the box flew beyond the despairing dive of Alex Rossis. The Blues continued to press playing some neat football and they had the ball in the net with a quarter of the match remaining only to see it ruled out for an infringement. Substitute Joe Francis fired over when well placed before the hosts wrapped up the win and the scoring late in the game with their fourth effort from outside the box, Sam Higgins with a well hit strike.

FT – East Thurrock United 4 Blues 0

East Thurrock United – Lidakevicius, Sammons (Peddie 43 mins), Wraight, Scott, Wood, Craddock, Miller (Anderson 86 mins), Gilbey, Higgins, Walker (Knott 63 mins), Smith. Sub not used – Phillips.

Blues – Rossis, Saker, Dunbar, Boardley (Francis 65 mins), Jefford, Bullard, Winter, Heath, Ottley-Gooch, Sands (Baker 85 mins), Brothers. Subs not used – Finch and Cunningham.

Man of the Match – Patrick Brothers

Attendance – 163