Wingate & Finchley 2, East Thurrock United 1

ROCKS manager John Coventry praised Wingate's players for their belief and attitude after they came back to win a match they had looked out of for long periods – and he said his own players 'melted' under the pressure.

After a great January when Rocks were undefeated in the league and consolidated their position on the edge of the play-off zone back to back defeats have put a dent in hopes of ending the season in the top five, though they have a quick chance to bounce back with the visit of Enfield Town to Rookery Hill on Tuesday.

Saturday proved a bitterly disappointing afternoon for the Rocks, who failed to capitalise on a great start, and after being frustrated by some gritty defending, ended up conceding twice in the closing minutes to return home pointless.

The Rocks got off to a flying start, taking the lead just four minutes into the game. Ipswich Town loanee Kai Brown did brilliantly, chasing what looked a lost cause out by the left corner flag. He won the ball and sent in a low ball across the box for Darren Foxley to fire past one time Rocks keeper Shane Gore.

Gore was to go on to frustrate his former club throughout the afternoon with a number of excellent saves, as the Rocks looked to build on their advantage.

Not that Rocks were having everything their own way. The resurgent home side looked dangerous going forward, as was soon apparent when Jack Giddens had to make a scrambled clearance after a Jamie Jellis free kick squirmed from his grasp on ten minutes.

Gore saved well from Frankie Merrifield and Foxley, then Amos Nasha had a free kick blocked (pictured) as Rocks pressed for a second.

The second half opened with a double chance for Rocks in the opening minute as first a defender blocked on the line, then Gore saved well from the rebound. Then Merrifield broke through only to be denied again by the keeper.

Nasha fired another effort over the bar, but at the other end W&F almost grabbed a freak equaliser when Giddens clearance struck Wingate's Jayden Antwi and rebounded goalwards. However the Rocks keeper reacted well to scramble back and save.

On 70 minutes Gore finger tipped a well struck Kai Brown effort over, but Rocks worries at not increasing their lead were proved correct when with 11 minutes left, Alphanso Kennedy, who had been lively throughout, latched onto a through ball, turned two defenders and fired the equaliser past Giddens.

Worse was to come for the Rocks as five minutes later substitute Charlie Ruff rounded off a good move by smashing home from close range.

Gore was to have one final say as the game moved into added time, pulling off a stunning save from a close range Danny Cossington header, to deny Rocks an equaliser.

One piece of good news for Rocks was a brief appearance late on by Alex Clark s he continues his recovery from injury.

After the match Coventry said: "You have to give credit to the opposition sometimes. They are young players and they kept going under pressure and as they held out their belief they could get something began to grow and they became increasingly confident, while we melted when the pressure turned round. They coped with the pressure of defending and we didn't in the end."