JOHN Coventry felt East Thurrock United’s 3-2 defeat at Hemel Hempstead Town was the story of Rocks’ season.

Arel Amu gave Hemel the lead soon before half-time and East Thurrock were reduced to 10 men as Ibrahim Sori-Diallo picked up his second yellow card on the hour mark.

Rocks reacted to the setback superbly, with goals from Sam Higgins and Rickie Hayles turning the National League South clash on its head.

But a Jordan Parkes brace allowed Hemel to seal all three points, which left Coventry despondent.

“It’s the story of our season,” said the East Thurrock boss.

“Whether Hemel deserved to win the game doesn’t matter because they scored three and we scored two.

“After going 2-1 up, we should see the game out but we didn’t.

“It seems as though anything that could go wrong, did go wrong.

“After 75 minutes all of the teams around us in the table were losing and we were winning.

“But we can’t concentrate on other teams and it’s up to us to get ourselves points.”

Hemel took the lead two minutes before the break as Amu converted Sanchez Watt’s cutback.

But an action-packed three minutes saw East Thurrock turn the game on its head despite going down to 10 men.

Sori-Diallo was dismissed after picking up two yellow cards, but Higgins headed home the leveller moments later and Hayles put Rocks in front with 62 minutes on the clock.

Hemel found a way back into the encounter as Parkes converted from the penalty spot.

And the hosts sealed all three points with seven minutes to play as Parkes’ free-kick took a wicked deflection off the wall and found the back of the net.