Congratulations to the Rocks!

John Coventry's men beat Dulwich Hamlet 3-1 at Rookery Hill to earn promotion to the Football Conference next season alongside Ryman Premier champions Hampton & Richmond Borough.

* East Thurrock United will be plying their trade in National League South next season after the Rocks overcame Dulwich Hamlet 3-1 in the Ryman Premier play-off final, writes Pitchero's Steve Whitney.

In front of a crowd of 1,661, the home side started well and took the lead after 11 minutes when a corner was whipped in and George Craddock claimed the goal, although top scorer Sam Higgins may have got the faintest of touches.

Eight minutes later and the Rocks doubled their advantage when another whipped-in corner was helped past Preston Edwards by Rickie Hayles.

East Thurrock suffered a blow just after the half-hour mark when they had Sammy Knott stretchered-off and replaced by Simon Peddie but after 35 minutes they made it virtually game over with a third goal. Remarkably it was the third from a corner, this time from Ben Wood, which ended with Hayles rising highest to head past Edwards.

Hamlet were given a lifeline two minutes later when they were awarded a penalty for a foul by Ryan Sammons on Nyren Clunis. Ashley Carew's spot-kick was brilliantly saved by Lucas Lidakevicius but Jordan Hibbert turned the ball home from an angle to make it 3-1.

A thoroughly entertaining first half ended with Hamlet`s Matt Drage slicing the ball over the bar and after the restart they went close with a long-range shot from Dipo Akinyemi which was just deflected over the bar. At the other end, Edwards punched clear and the ball dropped to Higgins but he hit his shot straight at the keeper as the Rocks held firm to end the game as worthy winners.

Images courtesy of Andy Nunn

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