Match Report: East Thurrock cfc Vs White Notley

East Thurrock Community Fc started the match well putting a couple of dangerous balls into the White Notley penalty area. Owen Dixie’s cross was almost met at the back post by his brother Ross, attempting a diving header. Rocks went close again, Joe McDonald charged up the pitch after a great interception in defence, earning us a throw well inside White Notleys half. A long throw into Danny Greaves feet meant he could turn and shoot but his shot was deflected just wide. Another dangerous ball into the box saw Jack Coventry’s header loop just over the crossbar. White Notley had a chance around the twenty minute mark but Harry Salter blocked well infront of goal. White Notley had another chance curling a shot from outside of the box but Tommy Bruley held well diving to his right to keep the shot out. Harry Cowlbeck put his body on the line to stop a white Notley Shot inside the box and Tommy Bruley was able to collect the ball. Rocks continued to attack with crosses into the White Notley box, but the keeper claimed these easily. Nearing the halftime mark White Notley curled another shot outside the box aiming for the top left corner, Bruley was on his toes to tip the ball over the bar superbly. White Notley now piling the pressure on, had another chance, number nine was played through the middle but once again Bruley was down to his right to prevent a goal scoring opportunity. In first half injury time, Danny Greaves played Owen Dixie through on goal, he skilfully took the ball around the keeper but the White Notley defender put in a goal preventing tackle inside the six yard box, stealing the ball from Dixie. Half – Time score was 0-0, a pretty even half with both teams having opportunities to score.

The second half started with the Rocks having a majority of the possession making some nice passing moves. White Notley did have a half chance as they shot from distance but Bruley gathered easily. White Notley began to pile more pressure onto the East Thurrock defence who coped well with everything that they came up against preventing any opportunities. Midway through the second half, Ray Snares played a great ball to Owen Dixie on the left hand wing, the cross almost caught the keeper out and crept in as he clawed the ball away from the goal, Jack Coventry was ready to score the rebound, but the White Notley defender managed to get infront of him and booted the ball away for a corner. The home team had another long range effort which stung the Rocks keepers palms. After a poor kick from Bruley and a poor pass back from McDonald, it looked as if White Notley would go one up but the chipped shot flew over Bruley and went wide of the post, a let off for ETCFC. The Rocks then went one up away from home after McDonald played a long ball from the back in towards Danny Greaves. The ball bounced over the White Notley defender, Danny Greaves ran through and calmly slotted the ball past the keeper into the top left corner of the goal much to the delight of the travelling away fans. White Notley were immediately looking for an equaliser and managed to take the ball around Bruley just inside the box, but Reiss Hewitt managed to clear the danger before the Notley attacker could gain control of the ball. Bruley played a long ball which was flicked on towards Greaves, the ball bounced infront of him and he hit an amazing half volley from the right hand edge of the box. The ball flew into the top left hand corner of the goal, the ball was in the net before the Notley keeper could move; a contender for goal of the season. The score stayed 0-2 To the Rocks as they earned a valuable three points taking them up to eleventh in the table.

Match report by Liam Cain