In a game that both sides no doubt thought they could earn their first victory of the season, neither did and it could indeed be a long hard season in both camps!

Early efforts for the home side from Ryan Ashe and Liam Feeney failed to trouble Thurrock keeper Robb Webb before the Essex side started to make moves towards the Hayes goal. Matt Lovell broke down the left before cutting it back to Wesley Thomas who was only denied by a sliding block by Gilbert Nuako, sadly the left back was to be out crafted by Thomas just a minute later, the striker beating Nuako to a long Gary Fisken ball before lofting it perfectly over Kevin Davies to give Thurrock the lead.

The Missioners had a golden chance to pull level just two minutes later, Daniel Dyer broke to the byeline before finding Kieran Knight who headed into the ground, the bounce took the ball over Webb and also the crossbar.

Thomas was proving a real thorn in the side of OJ and Co at the back, firstly his burst into the area was blocked away by a combination tackle from Adam Logie and Tobi jinadu and five minutes later Jinadu again did well to block away a shot on the turn. Still Thomas kept coming at davies' goal, a long crossfield pass by Lovell saw the striker ride two challenges before Davies palmed away his shot for a corner.

As the half time break loomed, Hayes started to apply themselves in the Thurrock half, Daniel Dyer and OJ combined, the latter seeing off two challenges before cutting the ball back to Jeffrey whose shot was deflected behind by a lunging boot. The Missioners centre backs both came close from a Liam Feeney corner, Jinadu seeing a header blocked before Jeffreys shot from the rebound was hacked off the line by Lovell.

Finally the pressure paid off with a minute to go before the break, Logie bombed the box with a long throw and Jon Dyer rose to plant a free header past Webb to tie the game at 1-1.

Kevin Davies was barely troubled in the second period but still the Missioners couldn't get that first victory of the season. As early as four minutes in, the home side swept upfield with a move that started with Logie, he fed Knight who in turn found Marvin Bartley who proceeded to move swiftly upfield before sending Feeney down the line, sadly his resultant cross saw Greg Heald nip in front of an on-coming Jon Dyer to clear.

Bartley was soon on the charge again, this time a three man defensive wall stood in his way and when the ball fell to Daniel Dyer the winger's dipping effort was only just over Webb's goal. Chances were to continue to be at a premium as neither side really looked like they were going to take the spoils, Jeffrey twice went close from corners and Jon Dyer flicked a header just wide.

As the game closed to its almost inevitable conclusion, Ashe saw a volley go over the bar and within seconds of coming on Michael Bartley saw a flicked on corner come too quickly and Webb gathered up the loose ball.

Report by Kevin Watts.

Photos by Ray Peploe.