East Thurrock 2-2 Bishop’s Stortford

(Ellul ’45, Ferdinand ‘87: Osei ’20, ‘79)

From the FutureFuel Stadium

National League South

EAST Thurrock United battled back from losing positions twice to earn a point against Bishop’s Stortford.

Late goals in each half from Joe Ellul and Kane Ferdinand ensured a draw, after a Jermaine Osei double appeared to have handed the struggling visitors a much-needed win.

Despite their early possession, Rocks found themselves a goal behind after 19 minutes following a swift counter-attack.

Evans Kouassi picked up the ball in his own half and ran at lone defender Michael Clark, before feeding in Osei, who took the ball around Lukas Lidakevicius to score.

Rocks had several half chances to equalise, but they had to wait until the stroke of half-time for the goal.

Harry Honesty's strike was well saved low down, but goalkeeper Joe Wright was only able to parry the ball out to captain Ellul, who crashed the ball home from close range.

East Thurrock started the second-half well but couldn’t get the goal they needed to take the lead.

Ferdinand had the best chance, as he was played in by a fine chested pass from James Walker but couldn’t make a clean connection.

Back came Stortford, and they came so close with 18 minutes remaining as Evans Kouassi crashed the ball off the crossbar and the follow-up drifted wide.

The away side did restore their lead with just more than 10 minutes remaining, as Clark was adjudged to have handled the ball in the area. Osei made no mistake from 12 yards.

But East Thurrock deservedly equalised in the 86th minute. Ferdinand got the goal from close range following a goalmouth scramble, with Rocks now gunning for a winner.

But Wright was level to their challenge, making several fine saves as the game ended all square.

East Thurrock United: Lidakevicius, Burns, Harris, Clark, Ellul, Marlow (Craddock), Gardner, Ferdinand, Walker, Honesty, Wraight