Thurrock were dumped out of the League Cup due to an impressive display of long range shooting by Margate’s John Keister.

Thurrock were definitely the more impressive team early on, with Kris Lee and Cliff Akurang, twice, both going close in the first twenty minutes. Shane Thompson, an early sub for the injured Martyn Lawrence, was unlucky on the half hour when his shot was well saved by Peter Trego. Half time came with Margate failing to register one shot on target.

Tresor Kandol nearly opened the scoring after 65 minutes but saw his shot saved by Trego and it was Margate who took the lead after 73 minutes with their first shot of the game. Richard Goddard’s slip let in Keister who smashed the ball into the top corner from outside the box. The game looked to be over but Thurrock equalised late in the game when Thompson’s pinpoint cross was flicked in by Kandol from close range. Keister scored his second and Margate’s winner 30 seconds into injury time. He received the ball on the corner of the box and let fly with an unstoppable drive into the far top corner. Thurrock did press hard, but were unable to create any clear cut chances despite a succession of corners in the second half of extra time.

 Man of the Match: Shane Thompson

 Thurrock: McMahon, Collis, Goodfellow, Goddard, Purdie (Hodges 38), Heffer, Kirby, Akurang©, Lawrence (Thompson 6), Kandol, Lee (Emmanuel 89)