Ware 3, Thurrock 2

THURROCK'S indifferent start to the season took a turn for the worse on Saturday when they were knocked out of the FA Cup by a team two divisions below them.

After successive Blue Square South wins, manager Hakan Hayrettin appeared to have turned the corner but he was brought back down to earth in the FA Cup Second Qualifying Round as his side crashed at Ryman Division One North Ware.

Thurrock started the brighter and had more than one opportunity in the first 15 minutes to take the lead.

After just three minutes Leon McKenzie shot wide of the left hand post and on 11 minutes Fola Orilonishe spurned a good chance following a corner on the left from Matt Bodkin.

Against the run of play Ware took the lead in the 17th minute. Joe Stevens seemed to have lost the ball but it found its way to Chris Ellerbeck who broke free of the Thurrock defence, rounded keeper David Blackmore and put the home side one up.

Thurrock equalised on the half hour. An Orilonishe corner was met by the head of Rob Swaine, Matt Allen in the Ware goal did well to save the effort but could only push the ball away. David Bryant was able to follow up to score from close range. Bryant then had two chances to put Thurrock ahead, his header from a Greg Lincoln cross being saved by Allen and then he shot wide when well placed.

Just before half time Bryant was brought down in the area by Michael Bardle, the referee immediately pointed to the spot but his attention was drawn to the raised flag of his assistant and after going over to him gave a free kick to Ware for offside. However, a penalty was given in the 60th minute to Ware when Swaine brought down Ellerbeck.

Stevens' spot kick was saved by Blackmore but he was first on hand to put away the rebound.

Six minutes later Ware went two up. John Frendo was allowed free passage down the left had side and his cross was met at the far post by substitute Kai Ramshaw who crashed the ball into the net.

Thurrock quickly reduced the arrears three minutes later when Matt Paine headed in Orilonishe's corner but the home side were able to hold on for the last 20 minutes the only real danger being two in range' free kicks, which were both, wasted.

Ware: Allen, Blower, Bardle, Wolf, Hammonds, Berry, Spendlove (Ramshaw 46), Frendo, Ellerbeck (Horsey 69), Burton, Stevens (Rose 75). Booked Blower, Ellerbeck, Ramshaw.

Thurrock: Blackmore, Swaine, Flynn, Anderson, Paine, Wood (Duporte 61), Orilonishe (Plummer 73), Lincoln, Bryant (Stadhart 59), McKenzie, Bodkin. Booked Swaine Paine, Lincoln.

Hayrettin and his squad now have time to lick their wounds as Tuesday's scheduled match against Cambridge City in the Setanta Cup has been postponed as Cambridge have an FA Cup replay against Chasetown.

A new date has not yet been set but it is likely to be Tuesday 9 October.