THIS SATURDAY’S MATCH PREVIEW – EAST THURROCK UNITED (AWAY) KO 3.00 PM

Saturday afternoon and Dulwich head off to the Wild East of Essex for an enticing clash as the Ryman League’s hot shot teams go head to head.

The industrial fires of the Corringham Refinery may have been extinguished three years ago, their hellish red glow in the Essex skies gone the way of so much industry in this country but at Rookery Hill a new fire has been lit. Having slumped close to the relegation zone earlier in the season the Rocks quickly built up a head of steam to move from basement strugglers to true championship contenders. Last Tuesday night’s single goal win at home to Burgess Hill Town, clinched by substitute James Walker’s 67th minute goal, was the Rocks’ ninth league game unbeaten and saw them move into third spot, three points adrift of Dulwich Hamlet and with a game in hand.

Goals are almost guaranteed when the Rocks take the field, John Coventry’s team matching the Hamlet as leading scorers in the Ryman League Premier Division this campaign though their 60 goals have come from a game fewer. Indeed, only once this term has a game involving the Rocks failed to produce a goal, that the Boxing Day derby at Aveley with local rivals Grays Athletic. Some might say that regular Golden Boot contender Sam Higgins is key to this, the striker having already bagged more than a goal a game this season with 23 in his 22 appearances in all competitions, but the Rocks are more than a one-man show, fellow forward Lewis Smith playing his part with 18 goals and midfielder Tommy Wraight another 11.

Remarkably, given how deep into the season teams are, this will be first meeting between Dulwich Hamlet and East Thurrock in the current campaign. Last season’s encounters both produced high scoring draws. Away at a damp Rookery Hill in November 2014, the game was marked by the return of Harry Ottaway for the Hamlet after a long break, the striker coming off the bench to score a peach of a goal only for East Thurrock to equalise at the death as the contest finished two-all. If that had been a thriller the return at Champion Hill produced a dingdong encounter that ebbed and flowed before producing a blockbuster finish. East Thurrock led from the third minute, Dulwich Hamlet equalised through a comedic own goal on 18 minute only for the Rocks to regain their lead within a minute. Ashley Carew’s penalty levelled things on the hour mark before slamming home another spot kick with a minute of normal time left. However, after a lengthy delay when Phil Wilson needed treatment for a broken nose, ten minutes of stoppage time remained to be played and in the fourth of those Ross Parmenter made it 3-3!

The Rocks made a steady start to the season, but with a 4-0 thumping of Leiston at the end of September only the Rocks’ third win of a campaign already 10 game old, thoughts of being back in the promotion pack were already being replaced by worrying glances over the shoulder at the drop zone. Yet it was rather points dropped in draws than in defeats that had stymied the expected promotion push among them an eight goal fright fest for the management as the Rocks blew a 3-0 lead at home to Leatherhead, trailing 3-4 in the 90th as the Tanners roared back to lead, only to salvage a point as Harry Honesty crashed home at the death.

October then November brought a purple patch as three straight league wins, including victory over current leaders Hampton & Richmond Borough, reignited the playoff fires. It also saw the freescoring Rocks hitting the FA Trophy trail in style, killing South Park’s hopes of matching their FA Cup giant killing feat at Leatherhead with a 4-0 win, battering Tiverton Town 5-0 with Smith helping himself to a hat trick and overturning Merthyr Town in a replay, Higgins sinking a double in a 3-1 victory. they would eventually exit the Trophy at home National League South side Maidenhead United, beaten 4-1.

Yet back in the League the touch paper was about to be lit on a Rocks’ surge from the mid-table morass into the midst of the promotion challengers. Travelling to Kingstonian might have seemed a daunting prospect but the despite surrendering an early lead given them by Ryan Scott, the Rocks ran riot in the second half humbling K’s 4-1. The win proved a catalyst as they followed up with victory over Enfield Town on Boxing Day, a New Year’s scoreless draw at Grays and back-to-back wins at VCD Athletic and highflying Tonbridge Angels, the latter marked by a brace from the ever-prolific Higgins. Tuesday night’s 1-0 win over Burgess Hill Town made it seven wins out of eight in the League, a run that had seen the Rocks move from 10th spot to third and within touching distance of the summit.

This Saturday’s game kicks off at 3.00 pm at East Thurrock United FC, Rookery Hill, Corringham, Essex SS17 9LB. Travel directions here

Nearest train stations are Basildon or Stanford-le-Hope with direct trains to this station from Fenchurch St. Journey, which should take about 50 minutes. There is a regular service on the 100 bus from both these stations serving Corringham.

MATCH DAY ADMISSION PRICES

• Adult: £10.00
• OAP/Students: £5.00
• Children under 16: £2.00