East Thurrock United 1–2 Poole Town

(Walker 77’: Devlin 39’ (p), Brooks 80’)

From the FutureFuel Stadium

National League South

POOLE Town left it late as East Thurrock United were narrowly seen off by the play-off hopefuls.

Rocks played against the wind in the first half but found it difficult as Poole pressed from the off.

The first real chance came on 35 minutes as Poole were awarded a free-kick 30 yards from goal.

Midfielder Steve Devlin drilled his left footed effort goalwards but Lukas Lidakevicius held on to the ball.

The visitors did take the lead in the 39th minute from the penalty spot after Luke Burbidge was adjudged to have been brought down in the box by Marvin Ekpiteta.

And Devlin wrong-footed the keeper and found the left hand corner.

East Thurrock came out strongly after the break.

Scott Heard sent a ball across the box and, without any player making contact, the ball bounced clear off the far post.

Rocks continued to search for the equaliser and got it on 77 minutes.

Heard curled a deep ball into the box and the the ball fell to substitute James Walker, who struck on the turn to level.

But the match was only all square for three minutes.

Substitute James Granger curled a perfect free kick ball into the six-yard box and Marvin Brooks met it well to steer the ball past Lidakevicius from close range.

East Thurrock United: Lidakevicius, Freiter (Wood 83’), Osifuwa, Peddie, Ekpiteta, Burns, Harris (Marlow 45’), Heard, Higgins (Walker 14’), Ruel, Wraight