FA Cup 1st Qualifying Round
Thurrock 1 v 2 Witham
Report courtesy of Thurrock FC
THURROCK’S first attack from the kick off nearly brought about the first goal as Remi Sutton laid the ball to Reece Morgan who in turn linked up with Joe Christou to fire across the face of goal to find Keke Orth beyond the far post. Keke had a go but the angle was too tight to trouble the ‘keeper.
Five minutes later Connor Wheatley had to be on his toes to punch clear from an extraordinary long throw from Lance Akins.
Keke was in the danger zone again after being played through by Leslie Thompson but on this occasion the defender was too strong.
Back at the other end and a Witham Town effort from twenty five yards is just over the bar. The goal kick came to Leslie Thompson who despite being tripped forced a pass back to the ‘keeper whose clearance came back to Thompson whose shot was put out for a throw.
Twenty minutes in and David Cowley intercepts the ball in the middle of the pitch and plays a near perfect ball for Thompson to run onto but cruelly the ball bounced off his heel, Witham took advantage and broke away and opened the scoring with a well worked goal from the right wing as the ball was played across the four attacking players leaving John Watson with a close range shot which he took. [0-1].
Keke powered passed three players on the left wing but delivered his cross too close to Baker. Moments later Danny Francis had to leave the field with a pulled muscle/hamstring and Thurrock had to survive two corners before Ross Gleed made his entrance.
Then with ten minutes left in the half Witham extended their lead when a corner is turned in by Lance Akins. [0-2]
Thurrock came close to reducing the deficit on the stroke of half time as a throw in to the area is left by Leslie Thompson for Keke Orth to strike powerfully but he couldn’t quite get it underneath the keeper.
Half Time: Thurrock 0 Witham Town 2
Thurrock came out guns blazing in the second half. Joe Christou battled for the ball and lays off to Reece Morgan to run onto and cross.
Christou took a throw to Thompson who took the ball on the half volley just over the bar. A minute later Ross Gleed won the ball and played to Keke who beats his defender and draws an excellent save from Baker who gets a hand on the ball to turn it round for a corner.
Keke turns up on the right wing next, skins his defender only to see his cross bounce off Tom Cocklin into Baker’s hands.
Thurrock got a goal back on the sixty fourth minute. Ross Gleed displayed a remarkable piece of skill by slowing down as he ran to the loose ball, drawing in a defender and then accelerating to leave him floundering. Gleed picked a ball for Joe Christou to head powerfully past the keeper only to be cleared off the line back to Christou who outjumped the keeper and a defender to make no mistake with the second attempt. [1-2]
Morgan takes a throw to Christou who flicks on for Morgan to run onto and deliver into Keke to clip over.
With just under fifteen minutes left Thurrock had a superb chance to equalise. Ross Gleed delivered to Keke in space twelve yards out but he got his foot under the ball and shot over the bar. Five minutes later and another effort is headed off the line.
Into the last minute and Thurrock were still chasing the replay. Remi’s cross found the keepers arms before Keke got the ball on the edge of the D with his back to goal, he struggled to get the ball under control for his own shot but set up Christou to shoot just inside the post but Baker got down to save.
Deep into the last chance saloon of seven additional minutes when the ball found David Cowley on the D, his curling, dipping shot beat the keeper before agonisingly bouncing off the woodwork.
So, the first home defeat and the end of the Road to Wembley for this year but still a battling performance to the final whistle.
