HAVING slipped to one place above the drop zone with this defeat, Fleet badly need some reward from tomorrow’s visit to second-from-bottom Bognor Regis.

There is no denying that Fleet are in real danger now as the Basingstoke side immediately below them, although five points in arrears, do have two games in hand.

In front of third-placed Hampton’s largest crowd of the season, 786, Thurrock fell behind after only 12 minutes when Graham Harper’s cross from the right was deflected into his own net by full-back Craig Hughes.

Thurrock’s Sam Lechmere was denied a 19th-minute equaliser by Hampton keeper Matt Lovett, but they visitors did level the score six minutes after the interval on a heavy surface.

Sadly for Thurrock, they were on terms for just two minutes before Francis Quarm put the hosts back in front with a superb volley.

From that point on there was only one winner. Quarm went close on two occasions before Shaun McAuley made the points safe with a third goal after good work by Ian Hodges.

Hodges had a late header saved by Dave Blackmore in the visiting goal, but the damage had been done by then.

Other results: Bath City 1 St Albans 0, Bishop's Stortford 2 Maidenhead 0, Bognor Regis 1 Hayes & Yeading 1, Bromley 1 Dorchester 0, Chelmsford 2 Welling 0, Eastleigh 1 Team Bath 3, Hampton & Richmond 3 Thurrock 1, Newport County 3 Basingstoke 0, Weston s-Mares 3 Fisher 1, Wimbledon 5 Braintree 1, Worcester 2 Havant & Waterlooville 2.