Now John Coventry's Rocks will face Chelmsford City on October 20 (From Thurrock Gazette)

Rocks move a step close repeating historic season

7:00pm Wednesday 10th October 2012 in Sport

FA Cup: EAST Thurrock moved a step closer to emulating their club record FA Cup run after beating Maidstone 3-0 on Saturday.

And Monday’s Cup draw for the next round matches handed John Coventry’s Rocks – based at Rookery Hill – a mouth-watering derby visit to Chelmsford City on October 20.

It means if they navigate the next round, they will have reached the first round proper two years on the trot.

East Thurrock cruised through to the fourth qualifying round via a dazzling display in front of home fans.

Maidstone were unable to cope with East Thurrock’s front line as Sam Higgins, Reiss Gilbey and Kye Ruel ran them ragged. Rocks manager John Coventry said: “I think we just had a bit more quality on the pitch and up front, and once we got into the final third that quality really showed.”

Despite the final scoreline, Maidstone had the first chance as Alex Flisher shrugged off Ryan Sammons before finding Ian Draycott with a low cross in the 12th minute.

Draycott got a flick on the ball, but only saw it bounce back off the far post and into Richard Wray’s hands.

A minute later Hakeem Araba should have scored for the hosts. He was found free at the back post, but he hit his shot over. Rocks took a 24th-minute lead when Sam Bewick handled in the box, and Higgins duly scored from the penalty spot. Rocks were by now in complete control of a lacklustre Stones side and in the 36th minute they made it 2-0. Higgins won the ball on the left and dispatched a cross which was not cleared, allowing skipper Gilbey to slide in at the back post to score.

The second half did not light up until the 68th minute when visiting midfielder Flisher furiously berated referee Stuart Pawley for awarding a foul, and that saw him sent off for a second yellow card.

The dismissal killed the game and Kris Newby made it 3-0 with a brilliant goal three minutes from time.

The midfielder got the ball near the right touchline before running rings round three defenders to get into the box, where he slotted home. East Thurrock: Wray, Sammons, Stephen, Peddie, Sheehan, Parmenter, Newby, Gilbey, Higgins, Araba (Collins 81), Ruel. Echo MOM: Sam Higgins (East Thurrock).