A comfortable performance by Thurrock saw them ease past AFC Wimbledon at Kingsmeadow in the tie that no-one wanted. With over 3,000 in the crowd expecting an AFC victory Thurrock knew that this would be tough and they were more than ready with AFC never looking like winning.

Wimbledon tried to pressure Fleet early on and had a goal rightfully ruled out after 2 minutes when Billy McMahon was fouled trying to catch a corner. Two chances in quick succession saw McFarlane and Akurang shoot wide and straight at Naisbitt in the Wimbledon goal. Wimbledon continued to pressure, winning their eighth corner by the 25^th minute but Thurrock never looked like conceding, with McFarlane and Goddard imperious in the air and McMahon punching clear when needed. After conceding so many corners it was no surprise when Fleet scored from their first. Dave Collis’ excellent out swinging corner found McFarlane where defences hate him to be found and the header was despatched with consummate ease. It was deserved as Fleet had been denied a definite penalty minutes earlier when an AFC defender had manhandled a Thurrock forward in the box. Wimbledon came close after 35 minutes when McMahon was beaten to a through ball on the edge of the box. The ball seemed to be trickling over the line until Collis cleared with a wonderful sliding block. The matches champagne moment followed soon after. Akurang received the ball by the touchline in line with his own penalty area, he shrugged off two players with strength and then ran at pace towards the AFC half, a step over ensured another player was beaten and as the fourth defender tried to tackle him, he crossed for Kandol. Unfortunately, the cross didn’t match the 80 yard run and Naisbitt reached it just before Kandol.

            Five minutes into the second half the game was buried. A short back pass saw Kandol nip in front of Gell to put the ball one side of him and run the other. The outcome was never in doubt as Kandol advanced on Naisbitt and chipped the ball over his right shoulder and into the net. Wimbledon pressured but never looked like creating a chance and it was Thurrock who nearly scored another when McFarlane headed just over after another Collis corner. Wimbledon’s first real second half chance came with two minutes left when McMahon could only parry Gray’s free kick, leading to an almighty scramble. McMahon dived where the boots were flying and held on. John Buffong was unlucky not to score in a little cameo appearance when he was sent clear but the ball was trapped under his legs and Roddis came back to clear.

Man of the Match: Jimmy McFarlane

 Thurrock: McMahon, Lawrence, Thompson, McFarlane©, Purdie, Goddard, Heffer, Collis, Hodges (Kirby 68), Akurang (Lee 84), Kandol (Buffong 88)