FOR the first time East Thurrock United will be playing Friday night football at Rookery Hill tonight (13 January) when they welcome Hashtag United to Rookery Hill.

Hashtag finished last season, their first at step four in eighth place, and this season are currently sitting second in the table, four points behind leaders Sudbury but eight points clear of third placed Heybridge Swifts.

Tags are managed by Jay Devereaux, who was John Coventry's assistant manager/coach for eight seasons. Dev's assistant is Joe Keith, another man who needs no introduction to Rocks fans having been with the club as a player and coach under Covo.

Former Rocks players in the Tags squad include Tom Anderson, Max Cornhill, Olly Miles and Eman Okunja.

Rocks fans will need no reminding of the only previous competitive meeting between the clubs, which took place in the first midweek of this season. The match was influenced by two farcical moments of officiating which decided the 2-1 win in the Tags favour. 

Judging by the post match comments, even the Hashtag fans and officials were more than a trifle embarrassed over the two incidents, a penalty that never was, and a ball that was nowhere near to being over the line.