East Thurrock United 1-1 Bury Town

From Rookery Hill

Ryman Premier League

 

EAST Thurrock United’s recent struggles continued after their 10-men drew with bottom-of-the-league Bury Town.

Sam Higgins had given the hosts an early lead, having missed an even earlier penalty, before Bury equalised following Dave Bryant’s red card two minutes after half-time.

Rocks, albeit strong favourites against the league’s bottom club, came into the game in indifferent form having tasted success only once in their last five outings.

And they started the game with a point to prove, as they aim to end the season in the play-off places.

Kye Ruel saw an early effort hit the post, with the follow-up from Higgins somehow blocked on the goal-line between the efforts of the impressive Alex Archer and his defenders.

Higgins had gone two games without a goal, hardly a drought but the longest the striker had gone without finding the net since September. And he had a golden chance to rectify that when Rocks won a penalty, after Southend United loan man Ellis Brown was chopped down in the box.

Higgins stepped up but his drilled effort was pushed away by Archer.

Goal number 35 for the season wasn’t far away however, when Higgins profited from a poor defensive header by Justin Miller to slot under the keeper, who almost kept the ball out.

Brown wasted another effort when played in, as Bury struggled to find their rhythm in the early stages.

Bur John Coventry’s team failed to build on their early momentum and were pushed back by a Bury team growing in confidence.

David Hughes was a spectator for the most-part for the remainder of the half, although Rocks may be disappointed at their inability to build on their advantage.

Whereas Rocks got a flying start to the first-half, they were dealt a serious blow at the start of the second as they were reduced to 10 men.

Bryant was dismissed for tugging back James Patterson on the edge of the box, and despite visiting players’ appeals for a penalty, the referee gave a free-kick but it came to nothing.

They should have equalised when the ball dropped to Phil Weavers 12 yards from goal but his effort was parried to safety by Hughes.

Higgins shot wide speculatively before Bury did get the equaliser their play deserved.

A neat counter-attack saw the ball find on-loan Braintree Town striker Michael Bakare and the striker turned on the spot to fire over Hughes.

Bury were well on top, and should have taken the lead when substitute Chris Benjamin was denied by a goal-line clearance from Paul Goodacre.

Kye Ruel came close in the dying embers of the contest while the away side saw an effort ruled out.

It is now one win in six for Rocks.

 

East Thurrock United: Hughes, Sammons, Wood, Goodacre, Witherspoon (Gilbey), Bryant, Parmenter (Symons), Higgins, Brown, Ruel

Bury Town: Archer, Allen, Dunbar, Nurse, Miller, Elenge, Garrett, Weavers (Patrick), Benjamin (Benjamin), Bakare, Paterson

 

 

Other result: Great Wakering Rovers 2-2 Dereham Town (Ryman One North)