Thurrock were dumped out of the FA Trophy by Ryman league side Slough Town after a poor performance.

After a tepid opening, where both sides were trying to figure out the opposition the game livened up after twenty minutes with a confrontation that saw Steve Heffer and Slough midfielder Christian Metcalfe booked.

Dave Collis played a lovely free kick into the box which Jimmy McFarlane headed across goal to Tresor Kandol whose close range effort was well blocked by Parkin in the Slough goal. The rebound fell to David Lee who inexplicably missed from less than a yard out by shooting straight at the defender on the line. On the half hour Cliff Akurang had a long range shot well saved by Parkin and minute later Lee Hodges was unlucky when he beat a defender and saw his shot well blocked. Slough nearly scored late on in the half when a scramble in the box led to a good tip over by Thurrock debutant Andy Woodman in goal.

          Thurrock didn’t come out for the second half. Slough nearly scored after 53 minutes. Akurang pulled out of a challenge on the halfway line, Slough broke away and Harris’ shot went just wide. On the hour Colin McBride decided to change things. Lee Hodges and David Lee came off and were replaced by Kris Lee and Ryan Lee. Slough went back on the attack immediately and Woodman made a good save from a close range header. Thurrock seemed to be getting more and more frustrated and Kandol talked his way into the referee’s notebook after his third disagreement with the referee. The only goal came with just over a quarter of an hour left. A long ball was played into the box and Akurang inexplicably handled when there was no danger. Harris hit the penalty well but Woodman saved it, only to see Harris put away the rebound. Two minutes later Woodman tipped over Haddow’s cross to stop the lead being doubled. After 82 minutes the ineffective Akurang was replaced by Simon Martin. Thurrock tried to push forward but were unable to create any clear-cut chance. A glimmer of hope appeared when Metcalfe was sent off with three minutes left for a second bookable offence.

Thurrock had two chances to rescue a draw late on. Firstly, Collis’ free kick was headed goalwards by Richard Goddard but Parkin did well to tip over the bar. With injury time coming to an end Kandol had a glorious chance to force a replay but he blazed his half volley miles over the bar.

 Man of the Match: Ryan Kirby

 Thurrock: Woodman, Purdie, Collis, McFarlane©, Goddard, Heffer, Kirby, Hodges (R Lee 62), Akurang (Martin 82), D Lee (K Lee 62) Kandol.