Thurrock 1, Eastbourne Borough 0

WITH an increasingly bunched pack in the higher echelons of the Conference South, this was a match against lowly Boro that Thurrock couldn't afford to lose and they came through the test with a hard-working, determined display.

At times it was backs-to-the-wall stuff for Colin McBride's men but nowhere was the battling spirit he has instilled in his side bettered than captain Jimmy McFarlane who gave so much blood for the cause thanks to a first half nosebleed that he needed two replacement shirts!

Thurrock's record appearance holder may well be into his seventh century of games for the Ship Lane club but his determination continues to shine through and his personal efforts were rewarded by a winning goal from teammate Garry Cross, though in truth it came with a big element of luck.

After the midweek comings and goings in the backroom McBride, and his new first team coach Andy Ford, will have been glad to get back to action on the pitch after an 11 day lay-off.

And Fleet were the first to mount a serious threat, a cross from the left by David Collis being headed just wide by Martin Carthy.

In a half of few chances Steve Harper also went close with a shot that Lee Hook did well to push past the post.

MacFarlane has to leave the field twice to deal with his bleeding nose but Thurrock coped well, their only anxious moments in the first half being long range shots from Mark Corneille and Anthony Anthony Storey.

The decisive moment of the match came just three minutes before half time when Cross joined the attack and received the ball from Dave Collis to strike at goal from outside the box. There seemed little threat as Hook moved to cover the shot but the ball deflected off Stuart Tuck's head to leave the keeper stranded as it looped into the net.

In the early stages of the second half Cross tried his luck again from distance, but this time Hook was able to make the save.

Eastbourne stepped up the pace from then on and Thurrock found themselves increasingly on the backfoot, particularly as substitute Loui Fazakerley, on for Matt Smart soon after the restart, became a significant influence on the game.

Glenn Knight had to be at his best to keep out an effort from Fazakerley on 52 minutes and 15 minutes later the same Boro player forced Knight into action again with a good header from Danny Simmonds' cross.

John Purdie was called into action at the back moments later as his last gasp challenge stopped a shooting opportunity.

At that point McBride introduced returnee striker Kris Lee, signed in midweek after leaving Ship lane for spells at Heybridge Swifts and Maldon, in place of Steve Harper in a bid to bring fresh impetus to his attack.

Thurrock thought they were unlucky not to get a penalty when Carthy's header appeared to be handballed in the box but they didn't have time to dwell on it as Boro pressed again and went close through Simmonds and Tuck.

Late in the day Thurrock had chances of their own through Lee and Richard Goddard, who missed a gilt-edged opportunity when he failed to connect cleanly with Kris Lee's pass, but in the end it didn't matter as Fleet held on for three very valuable points.

On Monday evening Thurrock are back in action when they entertain Ryman Premier league leaders Braintree Town in the quarter final of the Eessex Senior Cup, kick-off 7.45pm.

*Thurrock's league match at Histon, which was called off due to a waterlogged pitch last Saturday, has been re-arranged for Wednesday, March 13.