Second Half Comeback Stuns National League South Opponents.

Great Wakering Rovers 3-2 East Thurrock United
Brian Jeeves reporting from Burroughs Park
GREAT Wakering Rovers recovered from an early two-goal deficit to stun National League South new boys, East Thurrock United, at a sundrenched Burroughs Park.
Rovers gave as good as they got against their lofty opponents. Ellis Sands’ goalbound header was scrambled away, while Matt Belcher was forced into a smart save from Brandon Scott’s effort as the sides exchanged early opportunities.
But the Rocks class showed when James Walker turned on the proverbial sixpence to fire Jimmy Nottage’s low centre beyond Belcher to hand the visitors the lead.
Rocks began to shift the ball around with a little more confidence, and just before the half hour mark, Darren Foxley curled a superb effort past Belcher to double the advantage.
Kris Newby’s blistering free kick was turned aside by Richie Robins as the Rovers looked for a foothold, but just before the break, former Canvey Island man, Leon Gordon, nipped in to beat Robins and halve the deficit.
After the interval, Rovers’ Jay Nash nodded Newby’s centre a whisker too high, while Rocks Reece Harris’s dipping strike drifted the wrong side of an upright as the sides continued to toil.
Rocks substitute keeper, Lukas Lidakevicius was forced into an expert stop to thwart Nick Hilder’s thundering effort. But seconds later, Nash arrived to turn in Tony Jacobs’ pinpoint centre to restore parity. And before the Rocks could find their feet, Nash arrived again to nod home at the far post and complete a ‘Roy of the Rovers’ style comeback, handing the home side a surprise lead.
Burroughs Park favourite, Billy Johnson, fired a glorious chance wide, while Lidakevicius denied Nash with his feet as the Rovers looked to put the contest to bed. Indeed, Lidakevicius was now the busier of the two keepers. This time he did well to cling to another piledriver from Jacobs, and then turn aside a blistering dead ball strike from Newby.
In the final stages, Jacobs was again foiled by Lidakevicius, while Rocks frontman, Sam Higgins, was wayward as the visitors went in search of an equaliser.
Speaking after the game, a contented Rovers boss, Gary Ansell, said: “In the first half we paid them a lot of respect. We didn’t really have energy levels and costed through the game. It didn’t feel like a team performance. There were a few individuals running about, but there wasn’t that energetic commitment that you need in a football match.
And the Rovers chief continued: “We gave them a bit of talking too at half time, because they deserved it. After that, the tempo was very high, we pressed high up the pitch. We looked like a side that wanted the ball back at every opportunity because we were enjoying using it in the right way.
“We changed the formation slightly. Having an outlet in Tony Jacobs pace was exceptional. But what I did like was our commitment and desire to get the ball back and challenge. That was a massive plus for our team.”
Great Wakering Rovers now face National League South side, Bishop’s Stortford, at Burroughs Park on Tuesday July 19 (7:45pm) as their pre-season preparations continue to ramp up.
Great Wakering Rovers (from): Matt Belcher, James Pugsley, Tommy Spillane, Malaki Toussaint, Alex Vause, Kris Newby, Jacob Cleaver, Leon Gordon, Jay Nash, Jack Adlington, Billy Johnson, Tony Jacobs, Eljay Worrall, Jack Gardner, Adalberto Pinto, Nick Hilder
East Thurrock United (from): Richie Robins, Ryan Sammons, Jimmy Nottage, Ben Wood, Lee Burns, Kai Heather, Brandon Scott, Sonny Shilling, James Walker, Joe Paxman, Darren Foxley, Teddy Nesbitt, Ben Marlon, Reece Harris, Joe Gardner, Harry Honesty, Sam Higgins, Lukas Lidakevicius
Referee: Steve Parmenter
Attendance: 130