Thurrock 2-1 Bromley

THURROCK deservedly gained ample revenge on New Year's Day for their 8-1 drubbing at Hayes Lane on Boxing Day when they scored in the fourth minute of each half to hand Bromley a poor start to 2008.

With both sides making changes to last week's starting line-up, it was a much improved Thurrock side who took the field and they went in front with their first attack.

Sloppy defending was the cause and David Bryant took full advantage as he sped between Francis Duku and Jerrome Sobers to plant a firm shot past the exposed Andy Walker.

Sam Wood should have steadied himself after Danny Hockton and Gareth Williams had combined to lay the ball off to Wood, but the winger blazed well wide of the target on 13 minutes.

Bromley levelled the scores on 16 minutes when Mark Corneille played a one-two with Bobby Bowry before sending a low cross into the danger area, which was knocked away by a Thurrock defender.

Williams reacted first to the loose ball and guided it into the corner of the net past goalkeeper David Blackmore, who seemed to be unsighted as he made no attempt to save the shot.

Hockton was forced into making a hurried shot on 22 minutes which flew over the bar following good work by Williams and Wood.

Walker then tipped Bryant's firmly struck free-kick over the bar on 25 minutes and Hockton shot straight at Blackmore three minutes later following an intricate passing movement by Bromley.

As half-time approached Matt Paine headed a free-kick just wide of Walker's goal before Wood saw his 25-yard drive tipped over the bar at the other end.

Bromley might have gone ahead in the opening minute of the second half when Williams laid the ball into the path of Sobers, but the defender's shot was parried for a corner by Blackmore.

Thurrock regained their advantage on 49 minutes from the penalty spot.

A deep corner kick beyond the far post, which was going out of play for a goal kick, saw Ben Judge inexplicably put his hand above his head to divert the ball away.

The referee awarded a spot kick and Greg Lincoln duly stepped up to convert.

For the remainder of the game Bromley offered very little and seemed to accept they were not going to get anything from the match.

Play was disjointed with many hopeful punts up field, which played into the hands of the Thurrock defence.

Even the substitutions had little effect as the home side, obviously feeling very hurt from the result six days earlier, chased down everything, giving Bromley no time whatsoever to get their play together.

Thurrock could have increased their lead on 53 minutes, but Judge cleared Bryant's close-range header off the line.

A penetrating run by Michael Malcolm on 65 minutes was blocked by Sobers, but the ball rebounded to Bryant and this time Duku was on hand to clear.

Bai Mas Lettejallow then shot narrowly wide for the home side two minutes later.

Duku missed an easy chance to equalise on 69 minutes when he failed to control the ball from a corner as he managed to shoot over the bar with his thigh from within the six-yard box.

In a last throw of the dice Bowry dragged his shot wide on 85 minutes following good work by Hockton, but it would have been an injustice to the home side had it gone in.

At times it seemed Bromley were playing without direction and it would appear the three-man management team is not working as the Lillies slumped to their seventh defeat in the last nine fixtures.

Bromley: Walker, Corneille, Judge, Bowry, Duku, Sobers, Wilson (White 75), Glover (Osborn 55), Williams, Hockton, Wood. Subs not used: I'Anson, Davis, Parnham. Att: 346