Rovers subsitute Maximillian Gnandi scored the winner as Great Wakering Rovers grafted out a 1-0 victory over West Essex on Saturday afternoon.

Rovers are now unbeaten in five matches with five clean sheets and strengthened their position in a playoff spot. Rovers made the one change from Tuesday's cup win over Woodford Town. They welcomed back forward Callum Boylan but fellow forward Harry Talbot was unavailable.

KICKOFF:

Rovers started this game quite well, with winger Raheem Gray firing off-target on five minutes. West Essex however grew into the game though as the half went on, with winger Zak Oliver a threat from the right hand side. Rovers were starting to find it hard as the game went on to find their cohesion in their passing play, with playmaker Ben Search the main source of good passes. Even so, chances were few & far between, much to their frustration.

West Essex to their credit were well drilled and organised. Their centre-backs Reece Clarke and Vanadiny Mendes made it tough for the Rovers to find the forwards.

Raheem Gray was cautioned for kicking the ball away in frustration following a foal. The visitors started to grow into the game, Yemi Adelani fired narrowly over the goal just after the half hour. Rovers responded at the other end with winger Brad Rowland fired a strike just wide of the left post. The visitors then had a chance when a corner was met at the back post by Adelani but his header went just wide.It was West Essex again though who had the best chances just before the interval as a good effort by Adelani saw his header cannoned off the crossbar from a corner.

HALFTIME: Rovers 0-0 West Essex

The visitors had a blow to contend with when Mendes had to be substituted seven minutes into the second half with a knee problem.

Rovers started to up their game but the final ball was all that was missing as the visitors managed to clear any threat they threw at them. They needed a moment of magic and with twenty minutes to go, the deadlock was finally broken.

A superb corner from the left side by Ben Search angled in towards the front of the six-yard box and substitute Max Gnandi timed his run really well to nod the ball high into the net. The relief was almost as palpable as the joy for the home fans.

Moments later Callum Boylan broke free of the visitors backline but fired just wide of the right post. West Essex battled on into the latter stages as they made it a nervy end for Rovers.

Moments after Nathan Brathwaite had sent a free-kick wide from twenty five yards, Reece Clarke headed over after substitute Mitchell Arthur had knocked the ball on. Then four minutes into added-on time, substitute Mitchell Arthur rose well to win the ball but midfielder Bleron Ademi could not get enough power on his effort and it was claimed by a grateful Rovers goalkeeper George Martin. The final whistle went soon after and Rovers claimed all three points.

FULLTIME: Rovers 1-0 West Essex

A hard earned win for the Rovers. They are now unbeaten in five in all competitions. Special mentions to Ben Search with good passing play and Shaye La-Rose who did well in defence and bought the ball forward.

Next up is a trip to Saffron Walden Town on Tuesday night in the quarter-final of the Errington Challenge Cup and then back at home on Saturday to welcome top of the table Stanway Rovers.