Thurrock 4 Basingstoke 1

THURROCK bounced back in emphatic style from their midweek 6-0 drubbing at Cambridge City.

Still lacking a strike parter for Steve Harper, manager Colin McBride continued with defender Richard Goodard in an upfront role and he proved his worth with a hard-running display.

In fact he was instrumental in the first goal on just eight minutes, receiving the ball from David Collis and delivering a cross for Garry Cross to net.

On 26 minutes the visitors got back on level terms when keeper Glenn Knight was unable to hold James Taylor's shot and Ashman Holgate knocked the ball home from close range.

Parity lasted just four minutes though, as Harper continued his recent run of goalscoring with a fine run and clinical finish.

And the game was put beyond Basingstoke ten minutes in the second half when veteran Jimmy McFarlane produced a looping header.

The final word was left to Goddard who capped a fine individual performance with Fleet's fourth goal on 62 minutes after good work from Mark Janney.

*Former Thurrock striker Tresor Kandol, who enjoyed goalscoring success for Fleet over the past two years before moving to Conference side Dagenham and Redbridge is in line for a five figure move back to the Football League.

The 24-year-old former Bournemouth and Luton player has impressed for the Daggers this season and has been snapped up on loan by Darlington with a view to a permanent move in the January transfer window.