East Thurrock United 5–3 Braintree Town

(Higgins 8’, 70’ Smith 19’, Akinwande 75’: Roberts 16’, Crook 32’, Wynter 90+3)

From the FutureFuel Stadium

National League South

EAST Thurrock United produced an outstanding second-half display to defy the odds and beat Braintree Town 5-3.

Rocks were level at 2-2 when goalkeeper Lukas Lidakevicius was substituted with an injury, with midfielder Lee Burns donning the gloves.

But Rocks rallied and scored three times to move into the unassailable lead.

Both had enjoyed unbeaten starts to the campaign, and there wasn’t a lot between the two at the start of the match.

The Iron could have taken an early lead, as only a superb Marvin Ekpiteta challenge blocked Billy Crook in the Rocks penalty area.

And 60 seconds later, East Thurrock had the lead.

Lewis Smith fed the ball into the path of Sam Higgins, who rounded goalkeeper Nathan McDonald to score.

But the lead didn’t last long. It was a goal of equal quality that brought the equaliser, with Crook playing Phil Roberts into the clear and he lobbed Lidakevicius to level.

It was an action packed opening, and the next chance brought the next goal.

Smith won a free-kick in a wide position, with Reece Harris fizzing the ball into a dangerous area.

Surprisingly it was Smith that jumped highest and although McDonald got a hand to it he couldn’t keep it out.

Town could consider themselves unfortunate to be behind, and they came closest to netting the fourth goal of the match.

Ricky Gabriel was played in and his centre was met by Crook, whose shot from eight yards was deflected onto the underside of the crossbar before it was cleared.

But Crook wasn’t to be denied. George Allen clipped the heels of Karl Oliyide and down he went inside the box.

A penalty was awarded and Crook blasted high to Lidakevicius’ right to level once again.

A thrilling first-half ended with Smith heading off target.

Marcel Barrington was introduced at half-time for the away side and looked dangerous from the off, although Marc Okoye came closest next – nodding wide for Iron minutes after the whistle.

An unexpected problem arose nine minutes after half-time, as Lidakevicius was forced off with an injury.

Former Iron man Lee Burns went in goal but was largely untested.

And Rocks took advantage of Iron’s hesitancy to take the lead for the third time.

A Montel Agyemang free-kick was met by Allen and his header across goal was tapped in by Higgins on the goal-line.

Akinwande was denied a second by a terrific goal-line clearance from Ben Wyatt but Rocks were on fire.

Three minutes from time Agyemang added his name to the scoresheet with a fierce drive into the bottom corner.

Dernell Wynter netted an injury-time consolation but it was too little too late.

East Thurrock United: Lidakevicius (Akinwande 54’), Sammons, Harris (Honesty 88’), Ekpiteta, Allen, Burns, Agyemang, Marlow (Peddie 46’), Higgins, Ruel, Smith

Braintree Town: McDonald, Muleba, Gabriel (Wynter 80’), Frimpong (Wyatt 70’), Okoye, Shulton, Allen, Crook, Roberts, Oliyide (Barrington 46’), Campbell