Tonbridge Angels 0 East Thurrock 0

This FA Trophy Third Qualifying Round clash was a typically hard-fought cup game on a cold winters afternoon with neither wanting to lose, both displaying plenty of effort, but on the day not having the composure to finish the few chances that came.

Still East Thurrock, being the away team, will be the more satisfied at the result, and but for a debatable offside decision could have won the game in 70th minute when Tony Boot put the ball in into the net. The finish followed a interchange of passes down the left wing between Hayzelden and Harrison, which led to Harrison pulling back a cross for Boot to run on to, only to see the assistant referee raise the flag.

East Thurrock had the benefit in the first half of a strong wind that blew down the length of the pitch, whether the wind was an advantage was arguable.

In the second half against wind however, Rocks strengthened their rearguard by placing centre forward Steve West in the heart of the defence, shuffling the side round to accommodate, and clearly playing for a draw.

In the first half the Rocks had two excellent chances to win when early on Danny Harris just failed to connect properly with an excellent Danny Hayzelden cross, Jerome John in the Tonbridge smothering the ball on the goal line at Harris's feet, and late in the half Steve West failed to connect with a diving header from another Hayzelden cross.

Equally Tonbridge had their half-chances, the best of which and fell to Danny Lye who, with only Knowles to beat in goal, found time and space three yards out in from of goal only to put his shot well wide.

The second half followed the same pattern as the first and, in an effort to change things, Rocks introduced Martin Tuohy for Boot and Turnbull for the injured Harrison after 76 minutes. Immediately Tuohy was set free down the middle only for to leave his area and provide a saving tackle on Tuohy outside the box.

The last five minutes as you would expect from the home team.

In search of a winner Tonbridge exerted considerable pressure on the Rocks goal, throwing over a number of crosses and resulting corners, but, despite a few scares the Rocks defence held firm.

Throughout the match the Tonbridge defence was well marshalled and pushed up well. One the frustrating features of Rocks' display was the number of times they were caught offside, something for the Rocks management due of Steve Mosely and Lee Patterson to work on for the replay on Tuesday evening.