Fleet produced a commanding display to dispatch league leaders Hornchurch in the cup that their owner sponsors. There was only one team in the game for the first seventy minutes as Fleet looked better in every aspect of the game.

          The game started scrappily but Thurrock seemed to be winning the midfield battle with Heffer and Kirby winning tackles in their usual “dogs of war” fashion. The first real chance of the game came in the 26^th minute when Ashley Bayes could only parry Lee Hodges speculative drive and Tresor Kandol shot wide with Bayes scrambling. Cliff Akurang should have given Thurrock the lead ten minutes before half time when he was sent clear, but after a poor first touch he was unable to take the ball past Bayes who flicked away with his hands. The half’s best moment came minutes later when Hodges’ free kick, which looked to be heading yards over the bar, dipped viciously to hit the bar with Bayes well beaten. The lead came shortly after, Akurang’s tricky feet sold the defender and he whipped in a wicked cross which Bayes could only touch into the path of Kandol who tapped into the empty net.

          The second half started the way of the first, Hornchurch had some possession but every long ball was gobbled up by the excellent McFarlane and Goddard. The tie looked to be effectively over when Kandol’s strength took him past Searle and he blasted an unstoppable 20 yard drive, beating Bayes at the near post. Hornchurch did liven up and were stopped from pulling a goal back when Billy McMahon saved well at full stretch. Hornchurch pulled the goal back that they were threatening with twenty minutes still on the clock. A lovely cross from the left gave Sigere the chance to shoot from six yards and he made no mistake. Hornchurch  pressed hard, but like the game early in the season never really looked like scoring and Thurrock were twice unlucky not to get a third. Johnny Buffong’s fresh legs tore the Urchin’s defence to shreds and he crossed for Akurang, whose shot went across goal. The match’s best moment came with five minutes to go when the ball was played up to Kandol. He sent Akurang clear with an audacious flick, but once again Akurang failed to hit the target.

 Man of the match: Tresor Kandol 

Thurrock: McMahon, Collis, Goodfellow, McFarlane©, Goddard, Hodges (Buffong), Heffer, Kirby, Lawrence (Thompson), Akurang, Kandol (Lee)