THERE was disappointment for the borough's Isthmian North sides on Saturday with both slipping to demoralising defeats.

East Thurrock United have made a decent start to the season but when faced with one of the title favourites Heybridge Swifts at Scraley Road they were found wanting and went down 5-1..

Swifts started the day with two matches, two wins and two clean sheets, and they were quickly ahead once more, Ben Sartain opening the scoring on nine minutes.

It was two-nil ten minutes later, Rob Harvey scoring for the second Saturday in a row, but the Rocks halved the arrears just after the restart through Ayo Odukoya, a fourth goal of the season for the East Thurrock number nine.

Any celebrations among the visiting contingent were short lived when Kieran Jones made it three-one soon afterwards, and it was game over when Sartain made it four.

Victory was certainly confirmed as Ross Wall added a late fifth and Swifts are making a strong start at the top of the table.

Rocks will look to bounce back with a home clash against Brentwood Town at Rookery Hill on Bank Holiday Monday (3pm).

Grays Athletic looked to kick start their season as they welcomed Gorleston to the EMR season but it was to be the visitors who were smiling at the end with a 2-0 win.

The Blues lost their opening league match and departed the cup in a replay against New Salamis in midweek; while the visiting Greens had started this season the way they ended the last one, playing three matches in League and Cup and winning them all.

The first half was even and goalless but it was to be Gorleston that took the advantage, Juke Johnson putting the visitors ahead six minutes after the restart.

And it was game over when Ryan Curtis made it two with 19 minutes left, and the Greens held on to end the day in second place.

Grays are back in action on Monday with a trip to struggling Maldon and Tiptree who parted company with manger, former England boss Peter Taylor last week. The Jammers have one point from their two matches.