East Thurrock United arrived at Earlsmead fresh, having been the team that should have played against suspended Farnborough on Saturday. They also came into the game on the back of a good win in the Robert Dyas League Cup last midweek.
But the Greens, who had last tasted defeat back in January, were looking to go to the top of the fledgling table, albeit maybe only for 24 hours. But they fell behind after 25 minutes to a Lewis Smith effort.
Sam Murphy then equalised 11 minutes later from the penalty spot after Leon Smith had been brought down in the box.
There were chances at both ends after that, but it looked as though a point apiece was on the cards, until, in stoppage time at the end of the game, Lewis Smith won it for the Rocks when he ran forward unchallenged before unleashing a powerful effort past home keeper Joe Wright.
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