Earls Colne 0, East Thurrock Community FC 0

ROCKS moved within a point of the top of the Essex & Suffolk Border League Premier Division table with this goalless draw on Saturday (21 March) but the title destination is now out of their own hands.

A win would have put them above leaders Great Bentley and second-placed Thorpe Athletic, who are the form team in the division with five consecutive wins including a 6-1 romp against Arlesford Colne Rangers yesterday. all of the top three have six matches left

However, it wasn't to be and Rocks were left to rue missed chances, despite producing a dominant performance and creating the clearer opportunities throughout the match.

The visitors started brightly and nearly made the perfect opening inside the first ten minutes. After some neat work down the left flank by Lewis Rowe, Harry Prince found space in the box but lifted his effort narrowly over the crossbar.

Rocks continued to apply pressure and came close again on 22 minutes when Bailey Morris delivered a dangerous cross towards the far post, only for Tommy Barnacle to arrive a fraction too late to convert. Prince was again involved just after the half-hour mark, striking a sweet volley from the edge of the area that skimmed the crossbar with the goalkeeper beaten.

The best chance of the first half arrived shortly before the break. From a corner, Harry Salter flicked the ball on at the near post and it almost crept inside the far corner, but Earls Colne survived to go into half-time level. The Rocks headed into the interval firmly on top, but without the goal their play deserved.

The second half followed a similar pattern, with the Rocks enjoying the lion's share of possession but struggling to their covert dominance into goals. Changes were made in search of a breakthrough, with Bobby Reeman replacing Barnacle on 70 minutes, followed soon after by Kian French coming on for Keiron Miles.

The pressure continued to build, and on 82 minutes the visitors came agonisingly close once more. A ball flashed across the six-yard box, evading everyone before falling to Prince, whose close-range effort was well saved by the Earls Colne goalkeeper.

Another substitution followed late on as Keiran McGowan replaced Kelly Nwaehi, but despite sustained pressure in the closing stages, the breakthrough would not come.

The match ended scoreless, a frustrating outcome for the Rocks who dominated long spells and created the better chances. With a little more composure in the final third, the visitors could easily have taken all three points.

Line up: Tommy Bruley. Harry Salter, Harry Daly, Freddie Barrett, Tommy Barnacle, Kieron Miles, Harry Prince, Kelly Nwaehi, Bailey Morris, Zac Russell, Lewis Rowe.

Great Bentley's remaining fixtures are Sudbury Sports (a), Earls Colne (a), Cressing United (a), Gas Recreation (h), Dedham Old Boys (h) and Sudbury Sports (h). Thorpe's last six are Hatfield Peverel (h), Springfield (a), Tiptree heath (h), Dedham OB (h), Cressing United (a) and Alresford Colne Rangers (a).

Rocks, who have a League Knock-out Cup fourth round tie at Springfield next weekend, will be at home to Belle Vue Social on Saturday, 4 April and their other fixtures are  White Notley (a), Gas Recreation (a), Earls Colne (h), Arlesford Colne Rangers (h) and Dedham OB (a).