RYMAN PREMIER LEAGUE: John Coventry says Ellis Brown will offer East Thurrock United a new dimension in attack after he made a goalscoring start to his Rocks career.

The on-loan Southend United striker fired home a late consolation on his debut for the Ryman Premier League club last Saturday, in a 3-1 defeat to Tonbridge Angels.

East Thurrock have been reliant on Sam Higgins for goals this term, with the striker having scored 34 times already this term.

And Rocks manager Coventry believes 19-year-old Brown could give the play-off hopefuls even more potency in forward areas, after he scored a brace against Canvey Island for Southend on Tuesday.

“My squad has always been thin and to be honest the last few games I thought we needed to change things a little bit,” said Coventry.

“I think teams are starting to figure us out a little bit and I wanted to freshen things up a little bit and make us a bit less predictable.

“We often play 4-5-1 with two wide players supporting Sam Higgins and opposing teams can just stick both centre-halves on him and sweep up the danger.

“But now we have Ellis we have that extra option. He did well when he was at Witham Town and I know he will do well here. He will run with the ball and get in behind the defence. He has a very good touch and can play through the middle or in a wider position in a 4-3-3.

“I think Ellis and Higgo will work well together.”

Fifth-placed Rocks host bottom-of-the-table Bury Town tomorrow as they look to arrest a dip in form that has seen them win only one of their last five matches.

And Coventry says he is taking nothing for granted, after they were undone at Angels last time out.

“I expected us to win at Tonbridge Angels last week,” he said. “We made some terrible mistakes and, no matter the opposition, if you gift a side goals you will find it difficult.

“This is a game we should take three points from but we need to focus on ourselves. If we do that we will be ok.”

Coventry thanked Great Wakering Rovers reserves for playing Rocks in a Reserve League game on Wednesday night.

Rocks won the match 8-0.