East Thurrock United 3–1 Merthyr Town

From Rookery Hill

FA Trophy 3rd qualifying round replay

 

East Thurrock United are through to the first round of the FA Trophy after a 3-1 win over Merthyr Town.

Rocks had drawn 1-1 in south Wales on Saturday and were looking to set up a first round tie with National League South side Maidenhead United.

The match kicked off late after Merthyr arrived later than expected, having travelled 220 miles to get to Corringham, although when the match did start it was the visitors that were the livelier.

Rocks conceded a penalty and Ian Trayler beat Lukas Lidakevicius from 12 yards after just 18 minutes.

However, that lead lasted just four minutes after East Thurrock were awarded a penalty of their own.

Sam Higgins, making his first start for six weeks, netted after a handball in the penalty area.

Tom Wraight put East Thurrock ahead on the half hour mark, making the most of a ricochet to bury his strike into the corner.

Both sides had chances as the half came to a close but it was 2-1 at the interval.

Lidakevicius tipped an effort onto the bar as Merthyr pressed for the equaliser but it was the home team that pressed home their advantage.

The irrepressible Higgins scored his second of the night as he raced onto a goal-kick to find the net.

 

East Thurrock: Lidakevicius, Sammons, Miller, Wood, Hayles, Robson, Newby, Craddock, Higgins (Phillips), Wraight, Smith