Match photos

Thurrock got to their second consecutive Essex Senior Cup final with a hard thought victory against Southend United at Roots Hall.

            Thurrock started the brighter and could have had the game wrapped up after only ten minutes. Dave Collis’ short corner was hit goalwards by Lee Hodges, but went just wide with Turner scrambling across. After 8 minutes Simon Martin was put through and was unlucky to see his well hit shot go straight at Turner. A minute later Martin should have put Thurrock in the lead but missed the target from two yards out after a dangerous corner from Collis. Another chance went begging a minute later when Martin volleyed over the bar from close range. After starting slowly, Southend fought back. Andy Woodman made two good saves in the space of ten minutes, the first from a well hit 20 yarder and the second well tipped over from close range. The last fifteen minutes of the half belonged to Hodges. He had three shots created by himself and will feel unlucky not to have scored at least one. The first was a well struck shot form the corner of the area which Turner did well to hold onto. With 40 minutes approaching, he beat two players and saw his thunderous shot tipped over. With injury time about to finish Turner hit a back pass straight at Hodges, but his lob failed to clear the Southend keeper.

            Southend were quick out of the blocks in the second half and Tes Bramble missed a gilt-edged chance within a minute of the restart. The game became scrappy and neither team created any chances until the 70^th minute, when Hodges shot over from 12 yards after Johnny Buffong’s long throw in caused chaos in the box. Kris Lee was unlucky with five minutes when he shot over after being put through by Danny Shipp. Just as the game seemed to be heading for extra time the ball fell to Shipp on the penalty spot and he volleyed into the bottom corner to give Thurrock a final against Halstead.

Man of the Match: John Purdie

 Thurrock: Woodman, Collis, Davidson, McFarlane©, Purdie, Buffong, Hodges (Kirby 86), Heffer, Shipp, K Lee, Martin