The Yachtsmen got off to a flying start scoring in the opening minute. A lovely through ball from Ben Price set Stephen Drake away and the Wroxham striker ran on to pick his spot wide of Reece Ottley in the bottom corner.

A foul by Sam Harty on the edge of the area almost brought an equaliser for Thurrock as Bradley Warner’s free-kick was turned round by Aaron Cranfield and the resulting corner came off the top of the bar.

The Yachtsmen almost scored a second goal on 10 minutes when Drake turned to set up Joe Marsden whose rasping drive brought a good save from Ottley.

Wroxham did increase their lead on 17 minutes when Joe Marsden out on the right cut in and worked his way along the by-line to hit a cross cum shot which caught a deflection end entered the net.

Thurrock tried to get themselves back in the game and Warner went close with a free header which was just wide. Then the visitors had a better chance when Luke Stanley received a fine pass to get round Price and his shot came off the post. As the ball ping-ponged around Warner also had a free shot and should have scored but Cranfield brought off a brilliant save to turn the ball onto the post and it was cleared.

On 30 minutes Cranfield brought off another fine save to turn over from Lewwis Spence who was set up by Warner. The Wroxham goal led a charmed life when Warner again set up Spence whose drive missed by inches and this was followed by David Knight who shot wide as Wroxham survived.

Thurrock skipper Spence was then booked for a foul on Durrant as the game started to spill over in the tricky conditions. A good run by Joe Marsden set up Remy Gordon whose shot was saved by Ottley at the second attempt. And another shot from Durrant just cleared the bar.

HT Wroxham 2 Thurrock 0

Wroxham were losing the mid-field battle as the second half commenced and were lucky not to concede a penalty when David Knight charged into the penalty area and appeared to be brought down but referee Alex Guy awarded a goal kick.

Thurrock took off Warner who was replaced by Louis Hazelwood on 50 minutes and this substitution soon had the desired effect when Thurrock pulled one back.

Charlie Stimson turned on a sixpence to get in a shot which beat Cranfield and came off the inside of the post before entering the net. Three minutes later they were level when a free-kick taken by Luke Stanley on the left was curled into the top far corner leaving Cranfield standing. Then a cross from Lewis Clark almost gave the visitors the lead as it hit the bar and Thurrock continued to apply more pressure.

Wroxham replaced Harty with Danny Boswell but were then reduced to 10 men when Sam Groves was dismissed for a second bookable offence. Despite this setback, The Yachtsmen almost got themselves back in front again when Remy Gordon’s free-kick presented Joe Marsden with a free header which skimmed past the far post.

Hazelwood had the ball in the net for Thurrock but he was ruled offside and Joe Marsden’s shot for Wroxham was turned round for a corner. This was a full-blooded encounter with both sides looking for a winner.

Unfortunately for Wroxham it fell to the visitors as Thurrock scored a third when David Knights tapped home a loose ball on 89 minutes to give the visitors the lead.

In injury time a Ross Durrant shot from 20 yards was spilled by Ottley and the follow-up was just wide leaving Thurrock with all three points which they just about deserved in a game which was a credit to both teams.

FT Wroxham 2 Thurrock 3

Wroxham :Aaron Cranfield, Sam Groves, Matt Halliday, Ben Price, Bartek Pelka, Sam Hart (Danny Boswell), Remy Gordon, Joe Marsden (jack Smith), Paul Cook, Ross Durrant, Stephen Drake

Subs not used: Jordan King, Fernando Vide, Pedro Sanha,

Thurrock: Reece Ottley Lewis Clark, Ricardo Santos, Mark Onyemah, Robert Gilman, Luke Hanson, Luke Stanley, Lewwis Spence, David Knight, Charlie Stimson, Bradley Warner (Loui Hazelwood)

Subs: Jordan Clark, Robert Clark, Lewis Perkins, Anton Blackwood

Referee: Alex Guy

Att: 134

Report by Chris Green