Kingstonian 2, East Thurrock United 3
EAST Thurrock ought to have put this FA Cup second qualifying round tie out of reach of Kingstonian inside the first 20 minutes, but even though they went on to establish a two goal lead, the tie wasn’t settled until excellent ref Gary Evetts blew the final whistle.
Rocks boss John Coventry could only watch and wonder as his side wasted a hatful of glorious chances in the opening stages but, as ever, the watchful and considered manager’s game plan came good in the end as his team dominated most aspects of play and continually applied pressure to Ks’ weak points.
Playing a new, narrow formation with twin strikers Sam Higgins and Hakeem Araba at its spearhead, Rocks continually unpicked their hosts’ defensive formation from the off. With Higgins and Araba posing a handful up top, Rocks played around them and an early burst from the effervescent Kye Ruel set up a shooting opportunity for midfielder Reiss Gilbey but the visitors’ captain chose to place, rather than blast and keeper Rob Tolfrey got a hand to his curling strike and pushed it wide.
Other openings were carved out as East Thurrock dominated the game, pegging Kingstonian back around their own box but none were taken until the ninth minute when Tolfrey could only get a soft hand to a cross and the ball fell in front of Ruel who stroked it home through a crowded six yard box.
The goal finally stirred Kingstonian into some attacking intent and Andrew McCollin headed wide and then got in a low shot that was gathered by Richard Wray. Dean Lodge’s shot soon after was blocked by defender Ryan Sammons, who was doing a great job of shackling one of Ks’ most potent weapons.
However, Rocks were quickly back on the attack and more fine play by Ruel, who was revelling in the freedom to plough a roving furrow, set up Araba who blazed high over the bar with the goal at his mercy.
More pressure followed and it seemed only a matter of time before Rocks would add to their lead, but none of the chances fell the way of Higgins, the club’s top scorer and the exasperation at a succession of missed half chances was showing in Coventry’s growing frustration on the sidelines until a glorious goal from Rocks’ mercurial striker turned the frown into a smile on 39 minutes. Compared to what had gone before, there wasn’t much of an opening when the ball fell to Higgins on the apex of the six yard box but from the tightest of angles and with players to thread the ball past he thumped home a powerful shot that rippled the back of the net before Tolfrey could even move. It was a class goal, the second in successive matches from a striker who may be getting back into his scoring grove.
With a two goal lead to chase it was to be anticipated that Kingstonian would come out fighting in the second half and they didn’t disappoint as the pattern of the game changed, with Rocks finally finding themselves under some sustained pressure.
They still posed a threat on the break and it was clear the game’s third goal would be pivotal. It almost came when Matt Somner crashed in a shot from the edge of the box but Wray was equal to it with a full stretch stop but it did arrive on 59 minutes when Lodge picked the ball up wide, for once shrugged aside young tenacious fill back Tom Stephen and delivered a curling shot. It didn’t have the power of Higgins’ strike but had the same deadly effect as Wray didn’t move as it flew past him.
A new tense element entered the game with the goal as Ks sensed a comeback but Rocks weathered the storm, with centrebacks Simon Peddie and Steve Sheehan holding firm and holding midfielder Ross Parmenter cool and calmness personified as he mopped up the ball and passed his way out of any possible trouble. As ever, the diminutive Gilbey was also a colossus in the centre, imposing a presence on the game far weightier than his stature.
The tide might have been going Ks’ way though but Rocks always threatened to deliver a counterpunch and Kris Newby came close to delivering it with a shot that rattled the crossbar.
But the third goal eventually came with 15 minutes remaining when Ruel once more slipped his way past defenders and was bearing down on goal with only Tolfrey to beat. Home skipper Tom Hutchinson made a desperate attempt to tackle from behind but only sent Ruel tumbling, leaving Mr Evetts little option but to send him off. It was as clear cut a decision as you could wish for but both the skipper and manager Alan Dowson raged against the ref, probably more out of frustration at the whole afternoon rather than the decision, but the protests made little difference and while Hutchinson was still walking and muttering on his way to the dressing room, Higgins thumped home the spot-kick.
That ought to have put the result beyond doubt, but it was not going to be that clear cut and two minutes later Kingstonian were back in it thanks to an uncharacteristic slip at the back when Peddie and Sheehan went for the same ball. With the strand of communication between them broken, Peddie attempted to clear but the ball sliced off his foot and as Sheehan tried to cover he slipped, allowing the ball and Matt Pattinson an unchallenged path into the box and Pattison slid the ball past Wray to set up a tense finish.
It was an exciting and pulsating final chapter to a hugely entertaining match. Ruel was withdrawn for the more defensively-minded Matt Hall to fill in the midfield but it was Newby, normally more acknowledged for his attacking flair, that caught the eye in the closing stages, winning several huge defensive headers and chasing and harrying across the pitch.
His enthusiasm and commitment to the cause mirrored the whole team effort of East Thurrock who certainly deserved the victory, that might well have been sealed a little earlier than the final whistle when Higgins had a glorious chance to claim a second successive hat-trick at Kingsmeadow. Ks were pushing for the equaliser and won a free-kick when Stephen felled Lodge. He was cautioned for the offence, with the home fans and the Ks' bench demanding even sterner punishment for the challenge, which left Lodge limping quite badly.
When the free-kick was eventually delivered Tolfrey came up to the halfway line to allow his side to push more men forward but the ball was cleared and found Higgins in a race with the keeper. Tolfrey was back- pedalling as fast as he could while Higgins was racing forward trying to get the ball fully under control. A long range lob seemed the most obvious option but he elected for the less difficult option of taking a low shot from closer range but the keeper held his position well and blocked the strike.
That left a couple of minutes to be played out – and a couple of anxious added minutes too. With both sets of fans on tenterhooks the action was frantic but Mr Evetts finally brought the curtain down on a memorable, and thoroughly deserved win for Rocks.
The draw for the 3rd Qualifying Round see's the Rocks entertain, Maidstone United on 6th October.
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