East Thurrock United 0–0 Ebbsfleet United

From The FutureFuel Stadium

FA Cup fourth qualifying round

EAST Thurrock United will be in the hat for the first-round of the FA Cup after an entertaining goalless draw with National League Ebbsfleet United.

Rocks knew they were in for a tough ask against the Kent powerhouses, and they were on the back foot inside three minutes.

Sean Shields raced in behind Reece Harris and drilled across goal, with only a superb goal-line clearance from Ryan Sammons keeping out the visitors.

Lukas Lidakevicius blocked a strike from the resulting corner but East Thurrock were growing into the clash.

Set-pieces looked Rocks’ best way into the match, as first Sam Higgins and then George Allen came within inches of handing the home side the lead.

But the main drama of the half came in the one minute of added-on time.

Ebbsfleet’s Danny Kedwell headed the ball into the net as the referee’s assistant put his board up, only for the linesman to flag him offside much to the striker’s disbelief.

Up the other end, Lewis Smith raced into the box and prodded at goal, although he went down under pressure. But the referee was unmoved.

The second-half was an equally tight affair.

A clear-cut chance didn’t arrive until 20 minutes from the end.

A corner was flapped at by stopper Nathan Ashmore, the ball was played back into the penalty area and James White sent a header over, via the crossbar.

There was very little in it, although few would deny Rocks were worthy of at least a draw with 15 minutes remaining.

But it could have been more. Another penalty appeal was turned down although Higgins had the chance of the afternoon.

The striker picked up a terrific cross-field ball from Sammons only for Ashmore to deny him at the last.

And that was how it stayed, as Rocks look ahead to Monday’s FA Cup draw.

East Thurrock United: Lidakevicius, Sammons, Harris, Allen, Ekpiteta, White, Cornhill, Agyemang, Higgins, Smith, Honesty (Burns 85’)