CONCORD Rangers and East Thurrock United are bidding to serve up a triple helping of new year’s entertainment after the two were drawn to face each other in the Essex Senior Cup.

The two will face off twice in the space of a week in the National League South before a cup tie eight days later as both strive to reach the semi-finals of the county cup.

It is a carbon copy of last season’s league fixtures – which both ended 1-1 – with Rocks visiting Concord on Boxing Day before the return fixture in Corringham on New Year’s Day.

And managers John Coventry and Adam Flanagan admit it is a draw they would have rather avoided.

“When the semi-final draw is made you know you are not always going to get the draw you want,” said Coventry.

“It will be tough, of course it will. We will have played them twice by then so we will know plenty about them, although I know a lot about them as it is.

“When you play the same team three times in a short period there will be highs and there will be lows. I would be very surprised if either team was to win all three.”

“I am not a fan of the two games over Christmas and I would prefer to play two different teams over this period,” said Concord chief Flanagan.

“We now add a further game to this period and at the end of these games I am sure both clubs will have had enough of each other!

“East Thurrock are a team full of experience and have quality in every department. I think they will challenge for the play-offs.”

East Thurrock have the edge in recent encounters having not lost in the last six, although only a last minute equaliser from former midfielder Tom Wraight ensured a point the last time they met.

While Concord remain just three points above the National League South relegation places, they are one of the league’s in-form teams and without a defeat in 10 matches.

Rocks have taken eight points from the last 10 games, with Concord picking up twice as many.

And Coventry says he knows which games he will be prioritising when the two meet, as Flanagan looks to nullify Rocks’ potent attacking threats.

“Any manager in a competition by this stage will be looking at the possibility of winning it,” said Coventry, who took his team to the final last season.

“For me, I have to prioritise the league and I am sure Adam understands that. We both want to stay in this league. If I had to choose it would be the six points but we will do our best to do well each time.”

“In Sam Higgins they have a forward who season after season is at the top end of the scoring charts,” said Flanagan, who won the competition with Concord in 2016.

“It is difficult to see why his time at Concord (between August 2013 and March 2014) wasn’t equally as successful but we will have to be at our very best to keep him quiet if we want to get anything from the games.

“Equally, Reece Harris (another ex-Concord player) and Lewis Smith are dangerous and skilful players who offer real top end quality.”