Blues 0 East Thurrock United 3

Leiston once again fell foul of East Thurrock United and striker Sam Higgins after gifting him a second half hat-trick as the Rocks left Victory Road worthy 3-0 winners writes Mark Barber. In a match sponsored by Cracknell Properties Limited on a chilly October evening it was the away side who controlled the game from start to finish. Leiston were without a few key figures, notably in defence with Blake Saker and Joe Jefford both missing. Stuart Boardley also missed the game as well as longer term absentees Billy Clark and Christy Finch. Leon Ottley Gooch filled in at centre half and Josh Merritt came in at right back as Richard Wilkins switched to a 4-4-2 with Tom Winter partnering John Sands up front. The first chance of the game fell Leiston’s way. A long Ashlee Jones goal kick was met by Tom Winter whose quick feet found him some space and he played the ball square to Joe Francis inside the area but he could only direct the ball wide of the near post. From here East Thurrock took control and Daryl Robson in the deep midfield role was looking to dictate the play. A series of corners for the away side followed and it nearly provided the opening goal on 19 minutes. Mitchell Gilbey’s corner was met by the head of centre half Ryan Scott but Leon Ottley-Gooch was on the line to turn the ball over. Higgins had a few sights of goal in the first half but couldn’t find that scoring touch. His best chance came on 29 minutes where he found himself one on one with Ashlee Jones but the Leiston keeper stayed big and blocked his effort. John Sands saw an acrobatic volley from a Seb Dunbar cross go wide and Tom Winter saw the ball hit him from a Gareth Heath corner but he couldn’t adjust his body in time to make any meaningful contact. A lacklustre first half drew to a close with the teams at stalemate but the game was far too open for it to stay like that.

It did remain scoreless for the first 12 minutes of the second half until Leon Ottley-Gooch played a back pass to Ashlee Jones short and Higgins raced in to prod the ball home and give the away side the lead. Richard Wilkins gave Jake Taylor a Ryman Premier debut as Joe Francis made way but it was more defensive woe that cost Leiston the second goal. On 70 minutes the ball was given away cheaply in the Leiston defensive third and Higgins skipped over one challenge and coolly and deliberately tucked the ball away with the outside of his foot. Just two minutes later Josh Merritt was adjudged to have clipped an East Thurrock forward and after a long delay and consultation the Referee awarded a penalty with no further action. Higgins easily converted sending Ashlee Jones the wrong way notching his third of the night and fifth against the Blues this season. The remainder of the game was notable only for a couple of scuffles and a late series of Leiston corners but East Thurrock defended magnificently all evening and fully deserved their three points.

FT - Blues 0 East Thurrock United 3

Blues - Jones, Merritt, Dunbar, Cunningham (Trotter 82 mins), Ottley-Gooch, Bullard, Francis (Taylor 68 mins), Heath, Winter, Sands, Brothers. Subs not used - Horner and Rossis.

East Thurrock United - Lidakevcius, Peddie, Knott, Scott, Wood, Robson, Sammons (Miller 87 mins), Craddock, Higgins, Gilbey (Anderson 69 mins), Wraight. Subs not used - Phillips and Walker.

Match Sponsors Cracknell Properties Limited Man of the Match - Tom Bullard

Attendance - 147