County 1

Thurrock 4

THURROCK put a huge dent in County's play-off hopes with a comprehensive win at Spytty Park.

The Exiles have failed to beat the Essex boys in eight attempts now and the visitors were better in all departments, scoring two in each half to leave County needing to beat Fisher this weekend to have any hope of a top five finish.

Peter Beadle made three changes to the side held by Eastbourne on Saturday, bringing new father Nathan Davies back in place of Lee Fowler, giving Jermaine Clarke a rare start in preference to top-scorer Charlie Griffin and replacing the injured Jason Bowen with Sam O'Sullivan.

County made the worst possible start as Thurrock number 10 David Bryant beat the offside trap and coolly slotted the ball past Glyn Thompson and in off his left-hand post after just four minutes.

The Exiles looked uncharacteristically shaky in defence and Foga Orilonishe tested Thompson again with a strong drive seven minutes later.

Che Stadhart should have made it 2-0 a minute after that when he completely missed his kick when set up by Bryant just six yards out and Matt Bodkin vollied over from even closer range as the visitors threatened to run away with it.

County's first real threat came from an O'Sullivan cross which Clarke somehow headed wide with the goal gaping on 16 minutes.

Andy Gurney then hit the post from five yards out with a volley from a Richard Evans lob but the linesman's flag spared his blushes.

In the 22nd minute it was Thompson's turn to be embarrassed as he needlessly rushed out of his goal when Ian Hillier seemed to be in control of the situation. Bryant nipped in between them and rolled the ball into the empty net for his second goal of the game.

Craig Hughes, in what could be his last game of the season, missed a golden opportunity to get the home side back in it, opting to head a cross from O'Sullivan which was only a foot off the ground.

It could and probably should have been all over 10 minutes before the break when Bodkin sent Orilonishe through on goal but Thompson redeemed himself a little with a top-notch save to keep the game alive.

County were denied what looked a certain penalty for hand ball five minutes after the interval and Clarke headed wide once again from an Evans cross before Thurrock keeper David Blackmore somehow stopped a Hughes effort right on the line.

But the lively Orilonishe settled matters on the hour mark, nodding past Thompson with precision and executing a perfect back flip in celebration as the home crowd of 1,144 registered their disapproval.

In response Beadle threw on Fowler, Griffin and Julian Alsop in place of Evans, O'Sullivan and Hughes but in truth it was too late to make a difference.

Even the dismissal of Thurruck skipper Lee Flynn for a second yellow on 74 minutes didn't stem the tide and Bodkin added a fourth just a minute later.

Gurney grabbed a consolation with three minutes remaining with a free-kick wide on the left which Blackmore palmed into his own net but it didn't mollify a frustrated crowd.

Boos and cries of what a load of rubbish' rang out from the stands at the final whistle and this was certainly County's worst display at Spytty Park for some time.

A major improvement is needed on Saturday if Beadle's men are to avoid a repeat of last season's agonising final day.

County: Thompson, Jenkins, Searle, Davies, Jarman, Hillier, O'Sullivan (Alsop, 64), Gurney, Clarke, Hughes (Griffin, 64), Evans (Fowler, 64). Subs not used: Fowler, Pennock

Thurrock: Blackmore, Flynn, Clarke, Anderson, Paine, Letejallow, Orilonishe, Hughes, Stadhart (Read, 64) Bryant, Bodkin. Subs not used: Tenkopang, Taylor, Hussein

Referee: Martin Strong

Attendance: 1,144