Brightlingsea Town 3, East Thurrock Community FC 0

THIS Essex and Suffolk Border League Premier Division match began with the hosts on the front foot, with a chance early on that was tipped over the bar by Rocks' keeper Tommy Bruley.

Unfortunately for the visitors, the home side opened the scoring with a goal straight from a corner just five minutes into the game. After this Brightlingsea had a few more chances, the closest one running across the mouth of the goal and just barely going past the post. 

The Rocks were starting to feel frustrated after some poor decisions from the referee, most of which were pushes on captain Ray Snares, which the referee ignored every time.

East Thurrock came close to equalising when Owen Dixie got in behind the Brightlingsea defence and got 1 on 1 with the keeper, but unfortunately he was unable to convert. The Rocks kept battling for an equaliser all throughout the first half but just couldn't find the back of the net as they went in 1-0 down at half time.

Brightlingsea started the second half extremely well, taking advantage of an East Thurrock defense that had switched off, and scoring their second after only 2 minutes. Almost immediately after this, the hosts got in behind the Rocks' defence, although the advancing player appeared to be offside. However, the flag stayed down and the home team scored again to make it 3-0.

Things went from bad to worse as shortly after Faith Segemani was questionably sent off for a second yellow card. The home side took advantage of their extra man and kept piling on the pressure looking for another goal. East Thurrock were unable to keep the ball out of their own half, every time they cleared it away it was sent straight back up by the Brightlingsea back line. The visitors held off the attacks well and the hosts were unable to score a fourth.

They did come close when a shot crashed against the bar but it was fortunately put behind for a corner which was cleared away.

Towards the end of the match the travelling side were able to get the ball up the pitch a bit more, however they were unable to really test the keeper. The visitors kept battling to the very end, but it just wasn't to be as the final whistle was blown, concluding a frustrating day for the Rocks.usxc cd

Next up for the Rocks is an away game against White Notley on Saturday, 26 October.

Rocks' Lineup:

1 Tommy Bruley

2 Lewis Gardener

4 Joe Mcdonald

5 Faith Segemani

8 Ray Snares

10 Danny Greaves

14 Joey Purdy

18 Ross Dixie

19 Owen Dixie

20 Harry Prince

21 Harry Salter

Subs: 3 Jack AdamS, 6 Kieran Case, 7 Jack Coventry, 11 Bailey Morris, 16 Harry Cowlbeck.