Lewes 0, East Thurrock United 3

ROCKS recorded their third successive away Bet Victor Isthmian League Premier Division victory comfortably overcoming shot-shy Lewes at their Dripping Pan stadium to stay within touching distance of the play-offs.

East Thurrock gave a league debut to highly rated Ipswich Town loanee Kai Brown, and the teenager certainly didn't disappoint, his work down the left flank proved a constant threat, and he was heavily involved in setting up Rocks fifteenth minute opener, as he jinked past a couple of defenders before sending a low ball into the box which Frankie Merrifield scrambled home via a deflection in at the far post.

Home keeper Nathan Stroomberg-Clarke was far the busiest of the two keepers throughout, and did well to block an angled effort from the lively Darren Foxley who burst clear following a defensive mix-up.

Rocks went in for the half time break just the one goal up, and one might have expected to see a lively start by the home side after the interval. Instead, it was East Thurrock who were fastest out of the blocks, and in the opening minutes of the half Stroomberg-Clark did well to get down and save from Kai Brown, then pulled off the save of the game as a great drive from Foxley took a slight deflection en route to the top corner only for the overworked keeper to finger-tip the ball over.

At one-nil there was always the risk of the Sussex side getting back into in, but apart from one scramble in the goalmouth which was deflected onto the post, and a couple of wayward shots well off target, Lewes never really threatened Jack Giddens' goal.

Rocks wrapped up the win with two late goals.

With five minutes left, Matt Price set up Mitchell Gilbey to nip in and fire home Rocks second from close range, then a couple of minutes later Gilbey played a delightfull ball in from out on the left which Merrifield headed back into the mixer and Danny Harris was unmarked in front of goal to smash home the third.

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