CHESHUNT 1 EAST THURROCK UTD 2

FA Trophy 1st Qualifying Round
Saturday 18th October 2008

Harry England reports...........

The scoreline flattered an abysmal Cheshunt performance on Saturday afternoon, as East Thurrock progressed in the FA Trophy. After losing 4-3 from being 3-0 up around a month ago, The Ambers had it all to play for.

East Thurrock's first goal was a result of Cheshunt's own poor defending, as a defensive mis-kick allowed Martin Touhy to roll home after four minutes. The Ambers' Yohance Lewis had a chance five minutes later after Duane Jackman's header (right) was saved, but he hit it wide.

Thurrock had a goal disallowed after eleven minutes for offside, but it was nevertheless a good bit of play from Kurt Smith who plucked the ball out of the air and hammered it in.

The visitors doubled their lead on seventeen minutes as Smith was allowed to walk through the defence unchallenged before striking into the roof of the net.

There was no fightback from Cheshunt as chances were limited, the best coming from an Ashley Taylor-Forbes free-kick. He hit it straight into the wall before lashing the rebound  way wide, and Reece Prestedge had a hopeful effort just wide of the mark ten minutes later.

The visitors were walking the ball around the pitch, tiring Cheshunt out, with very few shots to note except a few from the impressive Kurt Smith. Goodchild (left) had to make saves on more than one occasion and had it not been for him it could easily have been more.

Fans were questioning the decision to bring off the attacking 
Taylor-Forbes in the sixty-seventh minute, and replace him with defensive Darren 'Willo' Williams, despite being two goals down.

Kris Newby had a good chance go wide as he went short for a corner, turning, running to the 'D', although hooking his shot wide of the near post.




Glen Parry had Cheshunt's best chance of the half, as a clever free-kick was layed out to him, although he hit his effort over.
The Ambers showed some attacking play in the dying moments, leaving many wondering what the scoreline would've been if this had been true for more of the game. Three minutes from the end of normal time, a corner came out to Reece Prestedge on the edge of the area, and he cracked the ball home powerfully, although nothing else came, leaving East Thurrock £2,300 richer.

Cheshunt: Goodchild, Thorogood, Parry (c), Mangodza, Dobson, Ramshaw, Taylor-Forbes (Williams 67'), Prestedge, Jackman, Lewis (Roberts 80'), Francis (Harrison 53')
Unused: Bradford, Ricketts
 
East Thurrock United: Wray, Sammons, Lovell, Wood, Pashley, M Cornhill, Newby, Harrison, Smith (Bajowa 70'), Touhy (Llewellyn 53'), Williams (c)
Unused: L Cornhill, Hall (only named 4 subs)

Attendance: 125