East Thurrock United 5-0 Tiverton Town

FA Trophy 2nd Qualifying Round

From Rookery Hill

 

A LEWIS Smith hat-trick secured a comfortable passage for East Thurrock into the final qualifying round of the FA Trophy at the expense of beleaguered Tiverton Town.

The tricky Smith scored a delightful treble against 10-man Tiverton of the Southern Division One South & West side, making light of the absence of star striker Sam Higgins and back-up forward James Walker, as Rocks ran out 5-0 winners.

Rocks could have taken an early lead when Tom Wraight’s cross found make-shift striker Ryan Scott but he was denied by Joe Perry.

Tiverton had several chances as they grew into the game but they couldn’t find the net and Smith opened the scoring with a brilliant strike.

The winger took on two defenders before striking across goal into the bottom left corner. That was it for the first-half, and it took 54 minutes for the second goal to come.

Wraight burst down the left and hit a perfect out-swinging cross for Smith to nod home at the near post.

Tiverton midfielder James Richards took umbrage with Smith’s celebration and was giving his marching orders for the following altercation.

And Smith had the last laugh as he scored his third after Scott was dragged down in the penalty area.

Ashley Miller added a fourth three minutes from the end, striking impressively beyond the keeper into the corner.

And Ryan Sammons finished the scoring with arguably the best goal of the bunch, striking into the top corner from 30 yards, leaving Perry helpless.

 

East Thurrock United: Lidakevicius, Sammons, Miller, Knott, Peddie, Hayles, Wood, Sammons, Craddock, Scott (Anderson), Smith (Phillips), Wraight​