FA Cup 2nd Preliminary Round
Met Police 3 v 4 East Thurrock United
EAST Thurrock emerged victorious from Saturday’s all Ryman Premier FA Cup clash at Imber Court where the highlight was a superb goal from Lewis Smith that proved to be decisive.
Rocks got off to a good, if somewhat fortunate start with a goal on nine minutes. It came after an incisive pass from Smith picked out David Bryant on the right and he delivered a ball into the box that was met by Sam Higgins. His strike took a deflection of an outstretched leg that forced it down and imparted vicious spin as the ball looped up and over stranded keeper Stuart Searle.
The visitors had chances to stretch the lead but were caught cold by a 23rd minute equaliser when an innocuous ball into the box was met by Michael Charles who was unchallenged as he side-footed home.
Up to that point, marshalled by new centreback signing Paul Goodacre, Rocks had looked comfortable but the goal stirred them from any complacency and they restored the lead just five minutes later when Smith, who was instrumental in much that East Thurrock did well, set the ball back for Simon Peddie who curled in a delicious cross that was met with a thumping header from Connor Witherspoon.
And the half was capped for the visitors by a third goal two minutes from the break when Bryant and Higgins linked well with Higgins delivering a defence-splitting pass that Lewis raced onto and he nicked the ball past Searle.
East Thurrock continued to press on the resumption but a misplaced pass four minutes in allowed Met Police to break quickly and from the counter attack Charles nipped in, again unchallenged, to slot the ball past David Hughes.
While not always comfortable, Rocks never really looked like conceding a third as they held their nerve and Smith produced a belter of a goal with a fierce angled drive from the edge of the box on 70 minutes to restore the two goal advantage.
It was a goal that Rocks needed as Met Police were somewhat gifted a lifeline ten minutes from time when Charlie Collins delivered a free kick into the box that evaded everyone and bounced past a flat-footed Hughes.
It made for a nervous end to the match for the visitors, but though they were tested by some set pieces into their box, solid defending – at last – saw them home.
