GRAYS Athletic gained their first league win in a month with a great win against play-off contenders, Margate. Two goals by Jack West and another by Jeff Hammond cemented the three points for the Blues.
TILBURY continued their very good home form with a solid victory over a disappointing Wroxham side. Manager Paul Vaughan fielded an unchanged line up for the first time this season and got off to a fine start on 6 minutes. Francis played the ball to Lee Weemes who dribbled forward before striking the ball towards goal that took a deflection and in to the net.
THREE ‘Clark’ goals was just enough to see off Waltham Forest but it was not all one way traffic as Thurrock were twice behind in a match that they were expected to win comfortably. The visitors took the lead in the fourth minute when Richard Worrell slammed home a close range shot, Thurrock caught out on the back foot pushed on and eventually equalised in the 32nd minute when Robert Clark drove home a splendid low shot from the edge of the box.
EAST Thurrock could have won this Ryman Premier clash by the proverbial country mile but profligacy in front of goal and the excellence of Cray keeper Andy Walker kept the score-line at a respectable level. Cray, who had endured a difficult week with a number of players leaving the club, nevertheless made a bright start and fired two early shots, both high and wide, at debutant Sam Mott's goal.
IN complete contrast to Saturday’s game, when Urchins survived by the skin of their teeth, Tuesday night’s FA Cup First Qualifying Round replay saw a much bigger gap between the teams than the scoreline suggests and had Hornchurch taken their chances they would have been home, hosed and on their way to Spalding by half time. As it was, East Thurrock somehow stayed in the game and at the end could even claim to have been a trifle unlucky after being millimetres away from extra time after a late effort hit the crossbar.
THE FA Cup has produced another derby game at Mill Field where Grays Athletic, having beaten Romford on Sunday, will play host to Tilbury – perhaps their oldest and fiercest rivals.
RYMAN One North Thurrock produced one of the best performances of the FA Cup First Qualifying Round where two strikes by form striker Charlie Stimson gave Fleet victory at Ram Meadow after a superb performance. Stimson opened his account in the fifth minute when Brad Warner took the ball down the left, crossed in for Stimson to hit cleanly on the half volley from just inside the box.
CANVEY Island cruised into the next round of the FA Cup with this convincing win at Ryman Division One North high flyers Aveley, though the home side felt the game turned on a disputed first half penalty. Aveley actually scored the first and last goals of the game, but in between a hat-trick of penalties from Jay Curran and a brace from Simon Thomas ensured Ryman Premier Canvey's name will be in Monday’s hat.
TILBURY secured a 2nd qualifying round place with a hardworking performance over fellow Ryman North side Waltham Abbey. Tilbury made 2 changes from Tuesday's draw at Redbridge with Jake Pooley returning at the heart of the defence and super sub Danny Francis up top, after his 3 goals coming off the bench.
GRAYS Athletic won a tense Essex FA Cup derby 2-1 against Romford in Sunday’s early kick-off. Grays got off to a great start in this First Round Qualifying tie as Joao Carlos scored after only seven minutes reports the FA.Com
VICTORY of the day was for Thurrock who beat a strong and fancied Bury up in Suffolk. Canvey just proved too strong for the Millermen. They will be disappointed.
GREAT collection of FA Cup matches this weekend. The Rocks face a stiff challenge at Hornchurch whilst the Millers will relish the visit of Canvey. Grays Ath play on Sunday against Romford.
DESPITE taking the lead through Chuck Duru early in the game, Grays were undone by Ks striker Andre McCollins who got all the hosts’s goals. The visitors had started brightly and were rewarded when Duru burst through to score and they enjoyed superiority through much of the first half, with Joao Carlos leading the home side a merry dance.
EAST Thurrock United boss John Coventry will be musing over the lack of firepower in this match which saw his side have several great chances but they were unable to convert them and in the end a lack of belief and conviction led to an overall collapse and the home side were able to control the game. Hornchurch, on the other hand, will be looking to build on the growing strike partnership between George Purcell and Stefan Payne.
