Thurrock sneaked through to the third qualifying round of the FA Cup after dominating the first 80 minutes but letting Hemel come back into the game.

The Captains challenge

From the off Thurrock were on top with Steve Harper, Terry Bowes and Martin Carthy all missing chances in the first quarter of an hour. Harper was having his best game for Thurrock and laid Craig O’Connor in but his shot was well saved by Smith in the Hemel goal.

Moments later Harper turned two defenders by the touchline and headed towards the goal but shot over from six yards when it looked easier to score. Colin McBride had an enforced change to make on 40 minutes when Richard Goddard came off injured and was replaced by Mark Goodfellow.

Bowes and O'Connor mount an attack

As the half seemed to be drawing to a close Fleet took the lead when Harper, at the far post, drilled home from Lee Hodges’ corner.

Thurrock came out and continued their dominance with Harper’s shot well saved and Bowes shot over from the rebound. The lead was doubled just before the hour when Jimmy McFarlane headed a trademark goal from another Hodges corner. The lead was nearly three halfway through the second half when O’Connor was put through by Harper and has his shot blocked, Harper then inexplicably blasted over with the goal at his mercy.

Cross and Heffer clear a Hemel attack

The third wasn’t long in coming when O’Connor scored at the second attempt after being put clean through. The game seemed won and Thurrock eased off only to find Hemel spring into life. Goodfellow’s last ditch tackle saved a definite goal on 82 minutes but that only delayed a goal by a minute.

Thomas smashed home an acrobatic over head kick from 8 yards after being given the freedom of the penalty area. Five minutes later he had added a second after outpacing John Purdie and curling home from twenty yards. The barrage of the last two minutes didn’t materialise as O’Connor kept good possession up pitch to thwart Hemel’s ambition.

McFarlane out jumps the Hemel Defence to score his first of the season

Man of the Match: John Purdie

Thurrock: Knight, Goddard (Goodfellow 40), McFarlane ©, Purdie, Bowes (Collis 84), Cross, Hodges, Heffer, Carthy, Harper, O’Connor.