BBC Essex Senior Cup – Round Two
Attendance: 75
East Thurrock Community Football Club bowed out of the BBC Essex Senior Cup after a spirited second-half fightback against Hutton at Rookery Hill.
The Rocks had the first opportunity after just five minutes when a long free-kick dropped dangerously near the penalty spot. However, a miskick allowed Hutton to clear and the chance went begging.
At the other end, Tommy was called into action in the ninth minute. Hutton broke through the middle and sent their striker clear, but Tommy produced an excellent reflex save to tip the effort over the bar.
ETCFC continued to threaten, with Flynn delivering a superb first-time cross towards the far post on 16 minutes, narrowly missing the outstretched boot of a Rocks player.
Hutton’s number 16 went into the referee’s notebook six minutes later after bringing down Prince with a tactical foul.
The visitors then took the lead in the 24th minute. A looping header opened up the Rocks defence before a composed finish made it 0–1.
ETCFC looked for a response and Newton drove forward down the left on 33 minutes. With only the goalkeeper to beat, his low effort was gathered comfortably.
Aleem fired wide shortly before the break, but it was Hutton who struck again in the 44th minute, a header doubling their advantage.
The Rocks nearly pulled one back immediately. Another dangerous free-kick was sent into the box, with Dan heading the ball towards Prince, only for the goalkeeper to get there first.
Deep into first-half stoppage time, Hutton were reduced to ten men when their number 16 received a second yellow card.
Three changes followed at half-time, with Adebayo-Bella, Callender and Salter replacing Bussell, Motobaluti and Prince as ETCFC looked to make their numerical advantage count.
Hutton still carried a threat and came close to a third on 51 minutes after a defensive mix-up, but the attacker could only find the outside of the post. Another effort was driven just wide seven minutes later.
The Rocks kept pushing and Lewis Rowe went agonisingly close in the 72nd minute, sending a driven shot inches past the far post.
A further change followed in the 82nd minute, with Larochelle replacing Newton.
With two minutes of normal time remaining, ETCFC finally found the breakthrough. King pulled one back to make it 1–2, setting up a frantic finish.
The Rocks came within inches of an equaliser in the 90th minute when Flynn attacked a corner, only narrowly missing the target.
Then, in the fifth minute of stoppage time, came the closest chance of all. Aleem whipped an in swinging cross onto the penalty spot and a Rocks header crashed against the crossbar.
It proved to be the final opportunity of the evening, as Hutton held on to secure their place in the next round.
Full-time: ETCFC 1–2 Hutton
A frustrating result for The Rocks, but a determined late push saw ETCFC come within inches of forcing the tie beyond 90 minutes.
Written by Claire Thatcher