Thurrock 1, Chesham United 3
A BELOW par performance, from what looks likely to be the Thurrock squad for this coming season allowed the buoyant visitors to take advantage of some bad defensive errors and punished them with goals.
Thurrock started well but failed to capitalise on their early possession, and spectators had to wait until the 22nd minute before the chances started to come.
The first was a shot from Reiss Gilbey, who collected the ball some 25 yards from goal and drove forward and unleashed a shot that was just inches wide.
Just minutes later Thurrock were awarded a free kick wide on the right flank, Lee Flynn passed the ball inside for Matt Bodkin to strike a shot that again just missed the target.
On 27 minutes the best chance of the game fell to Chesham’s Mark Lambert who followed through with his strikers into the box and when the cross came over he just failed to put his full force behind the ball and new Thurrock keeper Deniz Mehmet made a fine save.
Just 60 seconds later again Chesham should have taken the lead, from a corner on the left Steve Obeng ran onto the cross and with a firm header saw the ball just clear the crossbar.
Thurrock’s best chance followed a splendid move by Gilbey who found David Bryant on the wide left. Closely shadowed by his marker he managed to throw him off and turn to strike but just failed to deliver the power required and keeper Bobby Smith made a comfortable save.
Finally a breakthrough was made and it was for the visitors.A defensive error allowed the ball to be sent through to Steve Wales who ran on towards the advancing keeper and slipped the ball into the net.
A number of substitutions were made by both managers for the start of the second half and the game lost its momentum and became a scrappy affair, but it was the visitors that looked more dangerous and Wales added to his and his team’s tally in the 55th minute.
A nice move by Matt Bodkin and David Bryant in the 75th minute resulted in Bryant scoring his first of the season to reduce the deficit but just three minutes later in the 78th minute Chesham regained their two goal advantage when Liam Farrell side footed home number three for the visitors.
Thurrock now go to Billericay on Tuesday evening still looking to get their first win of the season.