County Cups

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

THE FansFocus.Com SENIOR CUP
 
 

CHELMSFORD CITY  4 - 2  THURROCK
 
Chelmsford City powered their way into the quarter-finals of the FansFocus.Com Essex Senior Cup after coming from behind to seal a 4-2 victory over ten-man Thurrock in Melbourne.
 
City, leaders of the Ryman League Premier Division, proved to have too much fire-power for their Blue Square South visitors as strikes from Bertie Brayley, Spencer Knight, Ricky Holmes and James Lawson saw the 2003 winners into the last eight draw. Thurrock had seen their captain, Greg Lincoln, sent-off for a second booking on the stroke of half-time.
 
It was Thurrock who stole the lead though on 13 minutes as David Bryant burst through from midfield before calmly slotting past 'keeper Ashley Harrison. But Chelmsford were level within three minutes. Stuart Ainsley had already seen his snap-shot blocked from a Jon Keeling cross before Keeling again turned provider for Brayley to loop an overhead kick into the top corner from ten yards.
 
A quickly-taken corner from Knight set-up Keeling again and his centre picked-out Lawson who sharply turned before firing a shot against the post, Thurrock eventually scrambling the ball away.

City shot-stopper Harrison did well to cling onto efforts from Craig Hughes and Matt Bodkin before the match swung hugely in the home side's favour in first-half stoppage time. Lincoln, formerly of Chelmsford, was dismissed for a second booking following a foul on Ainsley and, from the resulting free-kick, City took the lead. Knight curled home a fantastic 25-yard shot that gave goalkeeper David Blackmore no chance.

Blackmore twice proved his worth early in the second half, though, denying fierce strikes from Knight and Lawson and City's Harrison also had to be on his toes to tip over Fola Orilonshe's lob. However, despite some fine skills inside the box, both Keeling and Brayley created excellent opportunities but somehow contrived not to find the back of net for the home side.

Though City did extend their lead on 68 minutes, an excellent run by substitute Holmes culminating in a drilled shot dipping just under the crossbar. Thurrock squandered a glorious chance to claw themselves back into the tie when Bryant poked wide of an empty net at the far post from a low Rob Swaine ball before Chelmsford sealed their victory with a fourth goal on 74 minutes, Lawson sending a low drive into the bottom corner via Blackmore's glove from twenty yards.

The visitors grabbed a consolation from the penalty spot with ten minutes remaining, Bryant sending Harrison the wrong way for his second goal of the evening after Steve Ward had fouled Matt Bodkin. There was still time for Harrison to brilliantly block Kenny Clark's header from a Bodkin corner whilst, at the opposite end, the home side could have grabbed another. Holmes saw his shot held by Blackmore and the final chance fell to Knight who drifted a chip from distance just over the top.

Chelmsford City: Ashley Harrison, Spencer Knight, Chris Duffy, Aidan Collins, Steve Ward, Dean Palmer, Stuart Ainsley (Ricky Holmes, 58), Jamie England, James Lawson, Bertie Brayley, Jon Keeling (Luke Hughes, 72). Unused Substitutes: Kezie Ibe, Danny Gay.

Thurrock: David Blackmore, Rob Swaine, Kenny Clark, Phil Anderson, Matt Paine, David Bryant, Fola Orilonshe, Greg Lincoln, Che Stadhart (Leon McKenzie, 46 [Daryl Plummer, 67]), Craig Hughes, Matt Bodkin. Unused Substitutes: Lee Flynn, Alex Read, Andre Foster.

Bookings: Thurrock: Hughes (24, foul), Lincoln (37, foul and 45, foul), Swaine (90, foul).

Sent-Off: Thurrock: Lincoln (45, second bookable offence).

Referee: Wade Norcott (Harlow).

Assistant Referees: Paul Faithfull (Loughton) and Stuart Franklin (Basildon).

Attendance: 312.

Man of the Match: Jon Keeling (Chelmsford City) - The former Thurrock winger caused his old club numerous problems on the left flank, particularly in the first half. Fleet had little answer to his pace and tricks and he was instrumental in City's early opportunities.