East Thurrock Community FC 3, Harlow Town FC 1

BBC Essex Senior Cup – First Round. Attendance: 170

EAST Thurrock Community FC produced an electric performance at Rookery Hill on Tuesday (18 August), running out deserved winners over Harlow in the First Round of the BBC Essex Senior Cup after an entertaining display from start to finish.

The Rocks signalled their intentions almost immediately. Just three minutes in, Aleem Balogun brought the ball under control on the centre-left before driving towards goal and winning an early corner.

Two minutes later, he went one better.

Balogun found himself in a similar position, drove forward with purpose and this time created the opening for a shot, calmly placing his effort into the bottom-left corner to give the Rocks the perfect start.

Harlow responded quickly, however, and on 13 minutes a header at the back post found the net to bring the visitor.

The equaliser didn't knock the Rocks out of their stride. On 17 minutes, Harry Prince delivered a brilliant free kick towards the back post, where Kieron Miles connected but sent his effort agonisingly the wrong side of the post.

Tommy Barnacle was next to threaten. A through ball was played down the right on 24 minutes and Barnacle knocked it beyond his man before chasing it down, but his resulting shot was off target.

Two minutes later, Harlow had an opportunity of their own when a dangerous low cross was sent into the Rocks' box, but the defence reacted well to get there just ahead of the Harlow attacker.

Then came the chance for East Thurrock to regain the lead.

Barnacle lost his marker and burst through on goal before being taken out by the defender as he attempted to shoot. A penalty was awarded and, on 33 minutes, Prince stepped up and made absolutely no mistake from the spot, restoring the Rocks' advantage.

East Thurrock nearly added another before the break following a superb passage of play on 42 minutes. The ball was moved around patiently, recycled and worked back into the box, where the two centre-backs combined and Flynn got a shot on target, although the Harlow keeper was able to gather.

HALF-TIME: ETCFC 2–1 HARLOW TOWN

A great first-half display from the Rocks, who went into the break with a deserved lead.

Harlow created the first half-chance after the restart, whipping a free kick towards the back post on 50 minutes, but there was nobody there to meet it.

Five minutes later, Balogun showed tremendous strength to take his marker completely out of the equation and power into the final third. He deserved more for his work, but a second Harlow defender covered well to prevent him getting his shot away.

Then, on 57 minutes, the Rocks struck again – and this time it was lightning from Barnacle who exploded down the right-hand side, bursting past two defenders and into the box before firing a low shot across goal and into the net.

A superb individual goal and East Thurrock had daylight.

Harlow looked for a route back into the game and on 61 minutes a free kick was delivered into the corridor of uncertainty, but the resulting attacking header sailed over the bar.

Prince was shown a yellow card on 65 minutes following a late challenge before the Rocks began to make changes.

75' – Freddie Barrett replaced Harry Prince.

80' – Kiyenne Larochelle replaced Aleem Balogun.

86' – Marcus Adebayo-Bella replaced Alex Newton.

The visitors came close on 88 minutes with a low driven effort across goal from the left, but the shot went narrowly wide.

There was time for one final Rocks change in stoppage time, with Joe Callender replacing Lewis Rowe, before the referee brought proceedings to a close.