JOHN Coventry believes it is just a matter of time before East Thurrock United’s relegation from the National League South is confirmed after suffering a 3-2 defeat to bottom side Weston-super-Mare.

Although Sam Higgins put Rocks ahead, goals from Marlon Jackson and Tom Llewellyn allowed the visitors to turn the game on its head at Rookery Hill.

Ryan Scott levelled matters for the hosts, but Alex Bray scored a late winner to leave long-serving East Thurrock chief Coventry seething.

“I really don’t understand the players’ mentality," said Coventry.

“I don’t know why they didn’t give everything. We weren’t at the races in the first 45 minutes and it looked like we were still in Colchester [at the Essex Senior Cup final].

“We were dreadful and deserve what we’re probably going to get.

"I just feel like a dying dog that wants to be put down.

“The sooner we are relegated, the better because we are fighting an uphill battle.”

Higgins gave Rocks a 19th minute lead by beating the onrushing Weston goalkeeper Luke Purnell to a pass over the top and calmly slotting the ball into the empty net.

But the visitors were back on level terms moments before the break thanks to Jackson's thunderbolt finding the top corner of the net.

Danny Harris saw an effort cleared off the line, while Amos Nasha sent a long range strike crashing against the crossbar soon after.

But Weston took the lead as Llewellyn rounded off a swift counter-attack on 72 minutes.

Scott grabbed a deflected equaliser from close range only for Bray to net the winner two minutes later.

And Coventry was frustrated to end a week that had seen Rocks win the Essex Senior Cup - thanks to a 3-1 victory over Chelmsford City - for the first time in their 50-year history with a defeat that leaves his side four points adrift of safety.

“I’m amazed at how bad we were from the very start to the very finish," added Coventry.

“Weston came here probably feeling no pressure because they assume they are going down, but they were so much better than us.

“I don’t care about winning the Essex Senior Cup – at the moment that means nothing at all.

“It’s a shame because, after winning the trophy on Tuesday, we would have been buzzing if we had got three points.

“We were poor and got what we deserved – absolutely nothing at all."