East Thurrock Community FC 2, Southend Manor 1

ROCKS made it five Thurlow Nunn Eastern Counties South Division League wins in a row on Saturday (10 October) in the most dramatic fashion.

In front of 155 supporters at Rookery Hill the match seemed destined for a draw after Manor had produced a 90^th minute equaliser until a stunning 96th-minute strike from Lewis Rowe secured all three points for the home side – echoing their previous last gasp win at Brimsdown in midweek.

The opening exchanges were scrappy, with neither side able to establish much rhythm. The first real sight of goal came after eight minutes when keeper Max Seymour comfortably collected a tame effort from the edge of the box.

A minute later, Harry Salter became the first player to enter the referee's notebook following a late challenge.

Rocks began to find their feet, and in the 11th minute, Tommy Barnacle won possession high up the pitch before Lewis released Reiss Lowe down the flank. His cross found Fortune Motobaluti at the back post, but the resulting effort sailed over the bar.

The visitors picked up their first yellow card on 16 minutes following a late tackle on Lewis.

East Thurrock continued to search for an opener. On 25 minutes, some neat play involving Dylan Sanham and Tommy released Harry Prince through on goal, but his effort was off target, with the linesman's flag already raised.

Two minutes later, Bobby Reeman and Southend Manor's number 17 were both booked following a scuffle. From the resulting free kick, the ball fell kindly to Prince, whose volley was comfortably gathered by the goalkeeper.

The Rocks were enjoying some promising moments going forward, with Lewis and Tommy combining well down the left on 32 minutes, only for the resulting curling effort to drift narrowly wide.

Southend Manor had a golden opportunity of their own on 38 minutes but failed to capitalise from just six yards out.

The Rocks were then forced into an early substitution when Reiss went down injured in the 41st minute, with Joe Callender coming on in his place.

Before the break, Rowe rose to meet Barnacle's cross, but his header failed to trouble the keeper. Deep into first-half stoppage time, Prince held the ball up well inside the area before laying it off to Albert Hart, whose effort flew high and wide.

Despite opportunities at both ends, the sides headed into the break with the scores level.

Just three minutes after the restart, Barnacle reacted quickest to a loose ball, but his left-footed strike went wide of the near post.

Reeman tried his luck from distance on 55 minutes, although his speculative effort failed to find the target.

A minute later, a clever clipped ball over the top found substitute Joe Callender, who nodded it beyond the defence before seeing his effort slide agonisingly past the post.

But Rocks would not have to wait much longer!

Barnacle drove into the penalty area from the right, showing great determination before drilling a dangerous ball across the face of goal where Callender was perfectly positioned to tap home and give East Thurrock a deserved lead!

The visitors almost responded immediately, with a frantic goalmouth scramble inside The Rocks' penalty area on the hour mark. Somehow, the ball stayed out of the net!

The game began to open up as Manor pushed forward in search of an equaliser.

On 69 minutes, Rees powered through midfield but couldn't quite pick out Prince with his through ball.

Rowe then came close to doubling the advantage on 77 minutes, curling an effort towards goal from the edge of the box, only for the Southend Manor goalkeeper to produce a save.

At the other end, Seymour was called into action just two minutes later when a well-weighted pass sent a Southend player through on goal. The Rocks' shot-stopper stood firm, making an important save to preserve the narrow lead.

As the clock ticked towards 90 minutes, The Rocks looked to be closing in on another hard-fought league victory. But there was a sting in the tail as Manor equalised through sub Taylor Rowley Webster who had only come on four minutes before.

Yet The Rocks refused to give up. Just two minutes into stoppage time, Salter almost restored the lead with a thunderous volley that flew narrowly wide of the post.

And then came the moment that sent Rookery Hill wild.

In the 96th minute with virtually the final action of the game, the ball wasn't decisively cleared by Manor's defence and fell to Rowe on the edge of the penalty area. He shifted his feet, toook a touch and found a small gap through which he struck the ball sweetly, sending an unstoppable effort beyond the goalkeeper and into the back of the net!

The goal, celebrated with an impressive somersault, put Rocks into second place ahead of next weekend's match at home to Burnham Ramblers.