Billericay kept their hopes of winning the Essex Senior Cup alive last night with a 1-0 success at Ryman First Division North strugglers East Thurrock United.

With both teams being well below full strength due to suspensions and ineligibility, this was always bound to be something of a low-key affair but ex Football League striker Paul Fewings made the most of a rare first team chance for the Premier side by settling the quarter-final tie at Rookery Hill.

Fewings, back from a loan spell at Bishop's Stortford and making his first Billericay start since early October, ran into the box five minutes into the second-half and beat former New Lodge goalkeeper Stuart Horne with a deflected shot.

To be fair Thurrock gave a battling performance with experienced Ricki Finning always to the fore, but they lacked the penetration needed to stop Gary Calder's men moving a step nearer the final.

Published Wednesday, January 15, 2003

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