EAST THURROCK UNITED (Rookery Hill)

ISTHMIAN LEAGUE PREMIER DIVISION PLAY-OFF FINAL, EAST THURROCK UNITED 3-1 DULWICH HAMLET, ATTENDANCE: 1,661

After nearly a month without a visit to a new ground (the past few Saturday's have been spent watching Everton's season plunge new depths of mediocrity) I finally got the chance of a trip to Essex to watch history in the making as East Thurrock United hosted Dulwich Hamlet for the right to be promoted to the National (née Conference) South.



Neither side has ever played in a higher league than where they currently are, so the stakes were high. East Thurrock finished 3rd in the final Isthmian League standings (hence why they have home advantage) 10 points ahead of 5th placed Dulwich. Both league games against each other this season had ended in draws. East Thurrock came though Thursday's play-off semi-final with a 2-0 win over Tonbridge Angels, whilst Dulwich beat Bognor Regis Town 1-0.

The Rocks were founded in April 1969 by football enthusiasts who felt the two towns of Corringham and Stanford-le-Hope needed a senior non-league football club. It is approximately 2 miles between the towns. I know that as I walked from Stanford to the ground as the buses were rammed with supporters heading to the game. Thank goodness the weather was fine and dry for a Bank Holiday stroll!

During the club's first ever season (as members of the Southern Essex Combination) home matches were played at Corringham Recreation Ground. They subsequently moved to The Billet in Stanford-Le-Hope, before groundsharing with Grays Athletic to achieve senior status.

The club also had spells sharing with Tilbury and Purfleet before acquiring some land in Corringham and building Rookery Hill, the inaugural game being played in 1984. The club were members of the Essex Senior League until 1992 when they joined the Isthmian League and, to me the ground gives the impression of being improved as the club progressed, with five various sized stands dotted around the touchlines.

All of them were jam packed as there was a record crowd in attendance at Rookery Lane today with 1,661 spectators inside the ground. This crowd beat the previous best which was 1,207 for an FA Cup first round tie in 2011, where East Thurrock lost 3-0 to Macclesfield Town. I would estimate that Dulwich fans made up over half of the crowd today, their distinctive pink and blue adding plenty of colour to the occasion, and they made some good noise in support of their team.

Unfortunately for them their team just fell short as they were well beaten by a very well organised and efficient East Thurrock side. There was a strong wind blowing up the pitch and in the first half, playing with this wind behind them, East Thurrock took full advantage of the conditions.

George Craddock (11) gave The Rocks the lead when he scored direct from a corner. After 19 minutes their lead was doubled when another Craddock corner was headed home by Rickie Hayles. East Thurrock's third goal after 34 minutes was a carbon copy of the second as Hayles headed home another Craddock corner.

 After 37 minutes Dulwich were awarded a penalty but Lukas Lidakevicius saved Ashley Carew's effort, however Jordan Hibbert was on hand to smash home the loose ball.

In the second half Dulwich, now with the wind behind them, tried their best to get themselves into the game with a succession of balls into the box but Lidakevicius in the Rocks goal was rarely troubled and East Thurrock's well marshalled defence dealt with everything Hamlet could throw at them. 

Dulwich could have, should have, had a penalty in the second half when one effort was clearly handled off the line, but the referee obviously didn't see the offence through the crowded area.

It was East Thurrock who were therefore celebrating promotion and they were worthy winners today. I wish them good luck for the future.

Celebration time for The Rocks' players at the final whistle

ENFIELD TOWN (The Queen Elizabeth II Stadium)

ISTHMIAN PREMIER LEAGUE, ENFIELD TOWN 1-2 BILLERICAY TOWN, ATTENDANCE: 554

The first part of my North London double took place at The Queen Elizabeth II Stadium (aka Donkey Dome as the ground is located on Donkey Lane) in Enfield. Football returned to town in 2011 after a gap of 12 years.  

The Enfield story is far to complex to explain in a few lines, so can I point everyone in the direction of this write up by Ian King on the ever superb 200% blog http://twohundredpercent.net/?p=19845#respond which tells you all what you need to know.

The ground is located about half a mile from Enfield's old Southbury Road stadium, which is now a housing estate.

The ground was a dilapidated old athletics stadium when Enfield took control but lots of time, effort and money has gone into to restoring the stadium to it's former glory. The main stand is art deco, set way back from the pitch but it offers the best views of the game.

The rest of the stands in the ground are of the pre-fab variety but with the athletics track you feel away from the action. I watched the game from the balcony of the clubhouse, which had two Redemption Ales on sale. Happy days!

The game was a cliched game of two halves as the homesters had the better of the first before the visitors came back to claim the points.

Enfield took the lead after 19 minutes when captain Mark Kirby was played through and he fired past Billy Lumley in the Billericay goal.

Ricay were level after 68 minutes when Glen Poole scored from the penalty spot (pictured left). This was after Enfield's Joe Stevens was adjudged to have fouled Isaac Layne in the area. 

It was actually the linesman who indicated the penalty and once this was done then the referee had no option to show Stevens a red card as he was the last man.

The advantage told with a couple of minutes remaining when Billericay's Junior Luke headed home the winner after 87 minutes.

LEISTON (Victory Road)

ISTHMIAN PREMIER LEAGUE, LEISTON 0-2 WHITEHAWK, ATTENDANCE: 365

After spending most of the morning 'recovering' from last nights chicken vindaloo, it was a lovely sunny drive down the coast to Leiston in Suffolk.

Leiston is a small town just down the coast from the Sizewall Nuclear plant and, with the sun shining, it was tempting to go and have a dip in the sea off Sizewall beach. In the end I thought better of it and went to the local pub for a Sunday roast dinner instead.

Leiston have come a long way in a short space of time having won back to back promotions, winning the Eastern Counties League in 2011 and the Isthmian League Division One North in 2012.

I will be honest and say Victory Road is a pretty unremarkable ground, it is not what I had pictured in my mind, put it that way! The Main Stand along the pitch and 'terrace' behind the goal are of the pre-fab variety, so no further comment is necessary.



The Main seated stand





However there was a covered terrace alongside the pitch, next to the clubhouse, which looked liked it had been there a while. The clubhouse did have a real ale on the go, Box Steam Brewery 'Piston Broke' but I sadly had to give it miss in lieu of a nice cup of tea.

The game was not the greatest, though in mitigation I will say it was a hot sunny day, with a cool sea breeze,and the pitch was hard and bumpy. Whitehawk struggled to break down a stubborn Leiston side and grabbed three vital points with two second half goals.



Sam Gargan scores from the penalty spot

A penalty, given for handball, was converted by Sam Gargan after 71 minutes before another Gargan effort after 78 minutes clinched the victory. This sent the Whitehawk Ultras behind the goal into a state of delirium!

This result effectively seals the title and promotion for The Hawks as the only team who can mathematically catch them are Lowestoft Town whose fans, incidently, were out in numbers this afternoon.

For that to happen then Whitehawk would have to lose their last game, Lowestoft win their last three and swing around a goal difference of 12. Highly unlikely I think.



The Whitehawk 'Ultras'

If i'm honest both games I've seen this weekend have, in the main, been pretty poor and have not been a great advert for the Isthmian Premier League.

Whitehawk  will probably face tougher challenges in the Conference South and, based on what I seen today, I predict they could struggle with the step up next season. Last season's champions (Billericay) and play-off winners (Hornchurch) have already been relegated back to the Isthmian League. Best of luck anyway, but we shall have to see how the Hawks fare...

STOP PRESS: Whitehawk were confirmed as Champions in midweek after Lowestoft could only manage a draw against Wealdstone. However the name Whitehawk will not be appearing on the fixture list next season as the club have changed their name to Brighton City FC.

BURY TOWN (Ram Meadow)

ISTHMIAN PREMIER LEAGUE, BURY TOWN 2-2 MARGATE, ATTENDANCE: 425

When the chance to 'tick' off two, from the perspective of where I live, awkward Isthmian Premier League grounds appeared on the fixture list, it was East along the A14 I pointed the car.

Accompanied by a fellow hopper, our East Anglian double began with a trip to the market town of Bury St Edmonds.

The local team Bury Town were taking on Margate, with both sides chasing a play off spot.

It was a baking hot day and the pitch was bone hard, and though Bury had the better of the opening 45 minutes, there were very few chances created.

All the goals came in the second period and John Sands was credited with putting Bury ahead (49) but I was sure the last touch came from a Margate player.

Nonetheless Margate turned things around to lead 2-1. Dean Pooley headed home an equaliser (64) and then it was Pooley again (79) who gave the visitors the lead.

Adam Tann headed home an equaliser (84) but the result did neither team any favours in their respective bids for the play-offs.

Bury Town's Ram Meadow is in the town centre, at the end of a massive shoppers car park. The ground had cover on four sides of the ground and the main stand was a quirky old seated stand.

There are plans in place for Bury Town to eventually relocate http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-suffolk-18355336 so I would urge a visit to Ram Meadow sooner rather than later.

Taking football aside, the highlight of the afternoon was a mini beer festival (of mainly local ales) at the ground. This was a complete surprise, honestly, and some of the ales on sale were very tasty. The accompanying "Hog Roast" with apple sauce and crackling was also absolutely delicious. This set us up nicely before the main event of the evening which was a visit to the legendary Fat Cat Brewery Tap in Norwich....