Thurrock 2, Lewes 3

ONCE again Fleet fans saw their side slip at Ship Lane on Saturday.

This was a third home defeat out of four for 'Fleet and leaves Colin McBride's men well of the promotion pace.

After three consecutive beatings they will be glad of the respite of an FA Cup tie against Hemel Hempsted Town next week, but worried no doubt that they are at home once more!

Things looked bright in the early stages on Saturday and Thurrock thought they had opened the scoring on nine minutes, but Craig O'Connor's effort was ruled out for offside.

And it was to be unlucky 13 four minutes later when Leon Legge rose to head the visitors into the lead from John Robinson's corner.

Thurrock weren't daunted by the setback and a spell of dominance was rewarded on 24 minutes with a well-worked goal. Steve Heffer and Steve Harper were involved in the build-up which was typical of much of 'Fleet's enterprising play this season, and - for once - they had the killer touch at the end with O'Connor striking the ball crisply past Paul Wilkerson.

However it was to be Lewes who went into the break ahead. They enjoyed the better of the last five minutes of the half and Jean-Michel Sigere found himself unmarked and able to head his side back into the lead. It might even have been worse for the home side who had keeper Glen Knight to thank for a fine save that kept out Paul Kennett's strike just before the whistle.

Knight was called into action soon after the restart as Lewes went for their hosts' jugular, but it was the home side who were to score next, getting back on level terms through O'Connor's well struck penalty on 57 minutes after terry Bowes had been sent tumbling in the box.

That ought to have been the time for 'Fleet to press on and win, but once again they failed to take the opportunity and on 63 minutes the game's decisive moment came when Lewes won a free-kick on the edge of the box and Karl Bickford clipped his shot around the defensive wall and into the top corner.

Having gained the lead a third time, Lewes were in no mood to surrender it again and they held out to send home fans away in sombre mood once more.