BROMLEY 1 THURROCK 1 – FA Cup Third Qualifying Round 11/10/03

In a pulsating cup tie at Hayes Lane, Bromley played for over an hour with ten men against a team from a higher division and managed to earn a well deserved replay with an injury time goal.

As soon as Bromley fans found out that Andy Legg was refereeing the game many thought it was a forgone conclusion that we were on our way out of the competition, but in truth he had a fair game and got most things right.

The game started evenly with a large Thurrock side playing direct strong football and Bromley causing their rugged back line problems on the ground. The Essex side went closest when they hit the bar with a long range effort, but Dean Forbes also went close with a header for the Ravens. On 27 mins the game’s biggest incident occurred when Steve Potterill pushed his head into Dave Collis’ face after he had kneed him in the back. Unfortunately Mr Legg only saw the retaliation and Potterill was shown the red card. What was disappointing was Collis’ reaction to the incident, when he threw himself on the floor holding his face after minimal contact was made. Bromley reacted well to the blow and still created good chances with Huggins having a header just sail over the bar. Three out of four of Thurrock’s defence were booked for late challenges as the teams went in level at the break.

The Ravens started the second half well and Amoako really caused the sturdy defenders some problems. On 65 mins though we were sucker punched on the break when a cross from the left saw Harwood and Luckett get in each other's way and Linger pounced to put the Hoteliers 1-0 up. Their dozen or so fans went mildly happy as the rest of the ground fell stony silent in disbelief. Bromley rallied again though and after a foul on the hard working Kember, Luckett had a great free kick that was curling into the top corner brilliantly saved by Gothard. The keeper repeated the feat only minutes later and Bromley must have thought that their luck was out for sure when Danny Smith headed a looping ball over the keeper only to see it hit the inside of the bar and bounce out! Lee had a great opportunity to seal the victory when he was one on one with Harwood, but he blasted the ball over. On 88 mins the villain of the piece Collis was sent off for his second yellow card after he body checked Huggins just outside the box. He must have shuddered in the dressing room as he heard a huge roar from outside when in injury time the break finally came, a cross from the left was nodded down by Reid and Huggins smashed the ball into the roof of the net hitting the stantion and bouncing out. Any doubt as to the validity of the goal was soon dispelled as the fans behind the goal went mental and the Bromley players ran to Leroy to celebrate. 1-1 and we have to do it all again at Ship Lane on Tuesday night.

Funniest moment of the game was the Under 10’s team singing ‘the Referee’s a wanker’ and being clapped by everyone else behind the goal.

Team: Harwood, Potterill, Willy, Smith, Luckett, Forbes, Drewett, Kember, Huggins, Amoako, Hammond.

Subs: O’Hara, McKoy, Harney, Watts, Reid.