[.B]East Thurrock United 1, Carshalton Athletic 2[.B]

EAST Thurrock United turned in a battling display but once again ended up the losing side in Tuesday's Isthmian Premier clash at Rookery Hill.

Rocks were looking to bounce back from Saturday's home defeat by Cray but found themselves behind after 14 minutes when Nyren Clunis netted from a tight angle when he capitalised as Arthur Janata made a decent save first time round as Clunis bore down on him but could only parry the shot on his goal and the striker followed up.

Shortly afterwards Carshalton were awarded a penalty but Paris Hamilton-Downes blasted it very high and wide of the goal.

Rocks were less than impressed with some of the decision-making of ref Gerry Heron but continued to compete and might have had an equaliser just before the break when Kenny Aileru broke through but he made a hash of the opportunity and shot wide.

It was a similar tale in the second half with Rocks having plenty of possession but they lacked the quality to create real chances and failed to hold the ball up front, frequently allowing the Robins to clear their lines without coming under real threat and from one of those clearances on 74 minutes Omar Koroma was on hand to net from close range after a break down the right.

Within four minutes Rocks goal a goal back when Aileru's free kick from the left drifted across the face of the goal and just under the bar – it may have been a misdirected cross or a superbly flighted effort but either way it counted!

However, despite lots of huff and puff around the box Rocks couldn't work an equaliser and the visitors held on.