Havant & Waterlooville 2-1 East Thurrock United

FA Trophy 3rd Qualifying Round

From West Leigh Park

 

A VALIANT East Thurrock United were knocked out of the FA Trophy by ten-man Havant & Waterlooville in the FA Trophy.

Rocks had already seen off one team from the Conference South this term, easing past Bath City 7-1 in the FA Cup, but they were unable to replicate that performance in Hampshire.

Two early goals had put the Hawks in command but they fought back well, with Sam Higgins grabbing his 16th goal of the season to put the game back in the balance.

And, with Havant reduced to ten men with 20 minutes remaining, it looked as though an upset might be on the cards but, despite some late calls, they couldn’t grab that much-needed equaliser.

It only took eight minutes for them to find the net and it was a terrific goal.

Ben Swallow won a freekick after a trip on the edge of the box and the same man picked himself up and sent his strike beyond David Hughes in the East Thurrock goal.

Rocks responded and almost pulled a goal straight back when Reece Harris showed his quick-feet to beat several men and see an effort tipped wide by Ryan Young.

But it was Swallow who was back in the action before long, and when he broke into the box after 18 minutes, he was able to sidestep his man and hit low into the bottom corner.

Rocks were up against a terrific goalkeeper in Young, and he did well to deny Harris once again before denying David Bryant from close range.

Ryan Sammons also had a drive saved before the break although Havant also struck the post before the interval.

After the break, John Coventry’s side came out firing and pulled a goal back.

A fairly innocuous tug was penalised by the referee and Higgins stepped up to score from the spot.

Harris was denied by a tremendous one-handed save from Young and, when Swallow was given his marching orders, Rocks chances of forcing a replay looked more likely.

But they couldn’t find their way past Young and it was Havant that went through.

East Thurrock United: Hughes, Sammons, Stephen, Wood (Ngandu), Peddie, Parmenter, (Gilbey) Symons, Bryant (Paxman), Higgins, Smith, Harris