Thurrock are rocked (09.04.05)

A GUY Ekwalla header powered the Magpies to an essential and unprecedented victory at Ship Lane on Saturday.
The win, United’s first ever on this ground, was also the first back-to-back win since Dennis Greene’s arrival at York Road and gives the Magpies a fighting chance of staying up.
In a dour game of few chances the first half saw the script adhered to with the Thurrock centre back pairing of Jimmy McFarlane and John Purdie using their combined experience of almost 1,000 games to deal with United’s attacking efforts.
The writing seemed to be on the wall for the Magpies when on 40 minutes Kris Lee skipped through the United defence down the right before cutting inside and unleashing a ferocious shot from close range to put his team ahead going into the break.
The second half saw the Magpies stick to their task of breaking down probably the physically toughest side in the division.
Their reward came on 51 minutes when Lawrence Yaku was bundled over in the penalty area by Purdie; Craig O’Connor making no mistake with the resulting spot-kick.
Ten minutes later O’Connor forced a corner on the left and Jamie Cook’s kick was returned to the wing man before this time a perfect cross was met by Ekwalla with a bullet header.
The goals pricked Thurrock into action and in the remaining 30 minutes they exerted serious pressure on Magpies’ defence.
However, a disciplined display from the back four snuffed out the danger with keeper Adam Federici ably clearing up any loose balls.

GREAT GUY: Goal scorer Guy Ekwalla is mobbed by his team-mates on Saturday at Thurrock.