I'll go first

[Coffin Ender]

We had to battle on a lumpy old pitch against a determined ETU side. First half we edged it but were let down with wayward finishing. Second half undoubtedly belonged to the home side but we scrapped hard. Thought Beales was immaculate.

ETU almost scored in the last minute of injury time. Shot was blasted straight at Holloway who deflected the ball onto the woodwork.

Getting on for 50 of our fans in a crowd of 146.

[Coffin Ender]

A neutral view from the Kempster forum;

 

Ryman Isthmian League Premier Division

East Thurrock United 0(0)-(0)0 Margate

Rookery Hill, Lampitt's Hill, Corringham nr Basildon, Essex

Attendance: 146

Admission: £10. Didn't purchase programme

 

Also purchased: Double Decker bar and Bovril (in polystyrene cup) = £1.70

 

Oh dear, the run of avoiding goalless draws that has lasted since Easter Monday (AFC Hornchurch v Billericay in Ryman Prem, though Hornchurch v Lowestoft was 0-0 in the Play-Off final after 90 minutes a few weeks later) came to an end. And it could have been so different. My previous choice of Braintree was rendered hopeless as I could not get out of work in time, and only just made the closer 100 bus via a snap decision, which at least takes me virtually up to the doorstep Rookery Hill.

 

The game here itself, on a bitterly cold night, was not actually too bad albeit at times scrappy - I've seen better goalless draws, but I have seen an awful lot worse - and despite Margate going top with this result, they did not look like title hopefuls for pretty much the whole game, and only some fine goalkeeping from Gate stopper Craig Holloway in the second half denied the Rocks a much needed win. I say much needed, they are still well down the table, but are well clear of the bottom two, and look set for another mid-table finish. Good to see Margate doing well again under returning master of old glory Chris Kinnear, after what seems like an eternity of struggle, but if they are to maintain these lofty ambitions they will have to play much better than this, albeit this was an understandibly heavy and slippery pitch to deal with.

 

If the Kent coast side, who brought a few dozen along with them for this one, had not fired horribly off target in the opening minutes when completely unmarked, who knows what the outcome might have been. Yet it was the Rocks who soon settled down and started to launch assaults at the high flying side, helped by having most of the possession, although at times the final ball let them down. A home player was put through, but delayed his effort when a goal seemed certain, and Holloway made a smart block, and later on another close effort when a low cross was almost turned in from six yards at the near post, but the Rocks forward couldn't quite get enough contact with his outstretched leg. The nearest the visitiors came after their early chance, came on the break when a player fired just over the top. A half often played at breakneck speed, but no goals to show for it.

 

Having edged the first, John Coventry's side pretty much dominated after the restart. Four minutes in, a header from a free kick flashed ever so narrowly wide, and on the hour mark a cross-cum-shot from Kris Newby came back off the top of the upright. In between Margate almost went in front when a lad was played in, but denied by a great last ditch tackle in the box. However the hosts were still in overall control, and when Newby was in down the right again, Holloway made another fine stop with his legs at his near post to keep his side level, although soon after a little run and low shot from 25 yards from Hakeem Araba was too good for him, but also too good for the far post.

As the fear of the 0-0 after about 75 games unbroken dawned on me, some good chances near the end. With six minutes left, a Rocks corner was headed just a fraction wide, whilst from a rare chance at the other end, new keeper from Brentwood, Elliott Justham, mispunched a corner, but luckily just held on to the goalbound follow-up shot just inside the penalty area, through a crowd of players. Then, deep into added time, Newby again found himself in to the right of the box, but just when I thought the great run would somehow drag on a little longer, Holloway yet again pulled off a top drawer save to push the ball onto the post, and ensure both sides drew blanks, and probably couldn't wait to return to the warmth of the dressing rooms.

 

A quick word about East Thurrock's ground. Although I mentioned in another thread last week about ETU's hopes of buying the site of the nearby Pegasus Club to build a new stadium, the current ground at Rookery Hill is itself being upgraded. Looks like a small stand or covered area is under construction at the far end, roughly opposite the main stand, as the shell of a structure has been formed. There's also a large metal pole now in place and undergoing work by the main stand, which is presumably either for handling upgraded lighting or other electrical improvements? No idea why they are improving the ground when it is already Ryman Premier standard, but fair play to them for doing so.

 

Got bus back at 9:55. Finally got to the next village around 10:40. Then the long and lonely two mile walk along an unlit narrow country lane with not even edge markings, with a pocket torch to see where I was going. One can see how desperate I need that car back!

[michael]

not there ,so can't comment on specifics-but to me-a nil nil draw away from home on a cold night in essex is more than acceptable (provided we follow it up with a win this saturday )

 

nil nil draw-proper professional-so pretty good i reckon.

 

well done holloway by the sounds of things

[BlueGate Alan]

Holloway didnt have a lot to do but, as always, was there in the right place when called upon.

 

Agree Michael, not an easy place to go too, a pudding of a pitch too, so a draw was not disastrous at all IMO. Mind ypu if Bods had scored early on, when well placed, it may well have been 3 points in the bag.

[steve2310]

A well earnt draw on a pig of a pitch. Apparently Pooley was suffering with flu and the guys gernerally looked slightly heavy legged after their efforts from Saturday. For me a good point in tough conditions. Agree Bodkin should have taken his chance or at least make the keeper work but for me he looked the most dangerous player throughout. For the life of me I cant see why he was taken off?

 

Well done guys, roll on Saturday!!

[vic pain lives!]

As always as fans we never know everything maybe he had a knock, if not i totally agree wouldn't have taken him off.

[Blue Banshee]

maybe taken off just to give someone else a go?