East Thurrock United 4, Haringey Borough 2

BEFORE kick-off in Saturday's Bet Victor Isthmian Premier match both sides took part in a minutes applause to celebrate the life of East Thurrock' former owner and club patriarch Ben Bennett, who passed away this week.

Four minutes into the game Borough's Joseph Staunton lunged in on Amos Nasha with a challenge that left the crowd incensed. Had the game been 30 minutes in the referee might well have given a red card but so early on he decided to just give Staunton a yellow.

East Thurrock started the game brightly, Frankie Merrifield had an early change to tap in at the far post but didn't get onto the ball from a driven cross.

Haringey Borough struck with their first shot of the game in the 24th minute. Anthos Solomou fired home a low shot from outside the box that was bent round Jack Giddens and into the bottom corner.

Danny Harris had a good start to the game, regularly getting behind the Haringey backline pulled up with another hamstring injury and was replaced by Alex Clarke in the 30th minute.

East Thurrock whipped a ball into the box from a free kick, East Thurrock captain, Ryan Scott in the box rose up high and forced a good save from the goalkeeper before Darren Foxley poked in the equaliser from close range after 33 minutes.

Immediately from the kick off Merrifield broke away behind the Haringey back four, the keeper rushed out and despite The striker getting it round the keeper his effort hit the post.

East Thurrock had another chance at a tap in at the back post. Clarke drove into the box and flashed it across the goal, Mitchell Gilbey dived feet first at the back post but was only inches away from making it 2-1.

Not long after that on the 41st minute, Amos Nasha delivered a wonder goal to make it 2-1, shooting from 25 yards over the goalkeeper and into the top corner.

On the stroke of halftime Foxley delivered a series of stepovers on the sideline before running to the byline and delivering a high cross. The goalkeeper failed to come for it and Merrifield has an easy header from six yards out.

East Thurrock were good value for 3-1 at halftime, having had six brilliant chances to score and holding Haringey Borough to very little.

The second half was a much more quiet affair. Jack Giddens made a brilliant diving save to tuck the ball around the post.

On the 61st minute Jason Ring delivered one of his signature long throws into the box. Merrifield on the edge of the six yard box flicked it on with his head and Gilbey jumped high at the back post to tap the ball in with his foot.

On the 75th minute East Thurrock had a chance to make it 5-1 when Clarke delivered a beautiful cross but Darren Foxley got his head to it but the keeper pulled a wonderful save out the bag to push the looping header over the bar.

East Thurrock fell asleep at the back, Chiduben Onokwai got away and rounded Giddens for a tap in to make it 4-2 with 10 minutes left.

The final 10 minutes remained flat as both teams accepted the result was beyond doubt.

The game also saw a solid debut from Rocks' defensive midfielder Danny Cossington.