East Thurrock United 3–6 Staines Town

From Rookery Hill

FA Cup third qualifying round

 

A DEFENSIVE horror show saw East Thurrock United crash out of the FA Cup to Staines Town.

Pat Cox, fresh from a hat-trick against Billericay Town last week, scored a treble and Luke Wanadio netted a brace for Staines but many of the away side’s goals were avoidable from Rocks’ point of view.

John Coventry’s men were looking to make it three first round appearances in just five years while Staines had already beaten Rocks this term, triumphing 3-2 last month.

But East Thurrock should have taken the lead after just two minutes. In their first foray forward, Sam Higgins and Lewis Smith linked up, with the former drilling at goal. Staines goalkeeper Jack Turner could only parry and Smith sent the rebound wide from five yards.

Staines were growing into the match and it was the visitors that took the lead after 12 minutes. Ryan Scott tripped Cox and the striker, who had netted in the match between the two last month, sent Lukas Lidakevicius the wrong way from the spot.

And it went from bad to worse for the home side. Terrific work from former Rocks man Wanadio saw him beat Scott on the byline, cut inside and put it on a plate for Cox to double his tally.

Two became three before 25 minutes had been played, and it was another defensive calamity that led to the goal. Ben Wood’s weak back-pass was seized upon by Jack Hutchinson and the striker rounded Lidakevicius and slotted home.

All Staines good work was going through Wanadio, and it was little surprise when he added his name to the score sheet.

A quick counter-attack saw the winger pick up the ball and drive at the defence, with his right-footed effort sneaking in at the near post.

Rocks had been totally outplayed but, with 10 minutes of the half remaining they started to play, although it took a slice of luck for them to get back into the match.

A sliced effort from Smith was sailing wide until Higgins got in the way and diverted the ball home.

He thought he had doubled his tally within a minute but the offside flag went up as he sent an angled effort into the corner.

Smith shot over early in the second-half but they were dealt a killer blow when Wanadio scored his second of the match after just five minutes of the half.

Wanadio raced down the left, breezed past Scott and fired past Lidakevicius to make it 5-1.

Higgins got his second from the penalty spot and when Smith headed past Turner from close range, Rocks were looking the most likely to score the next goal.

But Cox made the game safe with the goal of the match in the final 10 minutes.

Wanadio fired in a superb cross from out wide and Cox climbed highest to flick inside the far post and send Staines through.

 

East Thurrock: Lidakevicius, Sammons, Wraight, Scott, Wood, Craddock, Miller, Gilbey, Higgins, Walker, Smith

Staines: Turner, Felix, Bennett, Boakye, Gough, Brewer, Wanadio, Lodge, Cox, Hutchinson, M'Bengui (Vancooten)