Report – East Thurrock Utd 0 – 1 Wealdstone
East Thurrock United
0 - 1
WealdstoneFormer Chesterfield and North Ferriby United striker Jorome Slew was the hero for Wealdstone at struggling East Thurrock on Saturday with a dramatic winner four minutes from time that pushed his side back up into the early play-off places in the National League South table.
The Rocks claimed that Slew was in an offside position but Referee Steven Hughes waved away appeals from the hard pressed home side whom had been under constant pressure for the vast majority of the contest.
Wealdstone were without the injured Bradley Bubb and rested David Pratt so in came debutant Slew as a substitute striker and he made his entrance after only 10 minutes play when Stefan Brown went down with an injury. Even prior to that change, the away side looked very lively with good chances for Brown and Matt Lench.
The eager-to-impress Slew was certainly making his presence felt and was soon booked for apparently blocking Keeper Jack Giddens’ kick.
On 20 minutes, a great Stones move saw Bradley Hudson-Odoi play in Freddie Grant down the channel but his excellent cross went begging in the danger zone and, soon after, Lench couldn’t quite connect with an inviting Hudson-Odoi ball into the box.
The chances for Wealdstone kept on coming with Slew one on one with Giddens but the forward was thwarted by the alert gloveman. On the half hour mark it looked as though Stones had made the breakthrough but the Assistant didn’t flag that the ball had crossed the line after a melee in the goal mouth.
East Thurrock had a few forays upfield and Stones defence still had to remain vigilant for the counter, particularly from dangerman Sam Higgins.
With Wealdstone so dominant but unable to find the net, the home side felt that they could nick a goal in the second period and when Jon North had to parry away a decent free kick the warning signs were flashing. Still Stones probed for the opening that would deservedly win them all the points but time and again they were stopped by a combination of poor finishing and desperate defending with Lee Burns prominent for the Rocks back line.
With 15 minutes left on the clock the Rocks hit the bar after a corner ball but Stones survived the scare. Stones, undaunted, kept plugging away and their efforts were finally rewarded with minutes remaining.
They grabbed the winner when Slew slotted past the beleaguered Giddens at the second attempt and Wealdstone saw out added time with the luxury of another missed opportunity from Hudson-Odoi.
WEALDSTONE: North, Sheppard, Grant, Stevens, Okimo, Poku, Lench, Ahmidi, Brown, Shomotun, Hudson-Odoi. Subs used: Slew, Green, Monakana. Not used: Wilson