EAST Thurrock United striker Sam Higgins helped fire his side into the lucrative First Round of the FA Cup despite knowing he would not be able to play in the tie himself.

Higgins was booked in controversial fashion mid-way through the first half of his side’s incredible 7-1 win over Bath City on Saturday for dissent.

It was his fifth booking of the campaign and means he will serve a one-match ban on the weekend of the FA Cup first-round.

The former Chelmsford City and Concord hit-man knew what the yellow card meant but refused to let it affect his game and he went on to score a hat-trick and give the Bath defenders a day they won’t forget in a hurry.

“I knew straight away,” said Higgins. “It was frustrating, but it didn’t change anything for me. I was still determined to work hard and help the team get through.”

Higgins’ booking was harsh to say the least – manager John Coventry called it a joke afterwards – and was the one sour note on an otherwise amazing day for East Thurrock.

It was given after referee Alan Young refused to stop play when the linesman was flagging for a handball committed by a Bath defender. Higgins questioned the decision and found himself with a yellow card.

“I’m gutted for him,” said Coventry. “We will miss him. If anyone wants to know how good a player Sam Higgins is, ask the Bath defenders, they’ll tell you.”

Higgins, who was part of the Rocks team that lost to Macclesfield in the First Round in 2011, was indeed magnificent against Bath, but he insists the whole team deserve credit for the performance.

“It was a brilliant performance, from one to 11,” he said. “We knew what we had to do to. We had been working on a plan all week and it came off. To win 7-1 is just crazy.

“We know what the feeling is like to play in the First Round. A lot of the lads here were involved in the Macclesfield game in 2011 and we all know how exciting a time it is.

"It would be great to be drawn away at a league team or even for a league team to come here, we’d fancy our chances on our own pitch against anyone.”