THURROCK 3 BROMLEY 0 – FA Cup Third Qualifying Rd Replay 14/10/03

As soon as the news came out that Forbes and Hammond were going to miss this game we all knew it was going to be very difficult. Every time Thurrock had a set piece we looked like conceding and the result was a fair reflection of the game.

Thurrock started the game looking stronger and Bromley had to play on the break. It took 19 mins before a well hit Collis corner was headed home by an unmarked Kandol for 1-0. The lack of height and strength at the centre of defence was to prove very costly and we really missed Kember in centre midfield and Hammond on the left. Gothard made two good saves, one from Luckett and another from Reid, but we really didn’t threaten at any stage at all. On 39 mins another corner by Collis was headed home without any real difficulty for 2-0. In the minutes leading to half time Bromley rallied and played some nice football, but with no end product.

The second half was basically Thurrock’s with Bromley again having a few breaks, but never looking dangerous. Amoako finally came on only to be put out on the wing, no other Bromley subs were made until very late on. On 72 mins a fierce Akurang drive crashed against the Bromley bar and Bowes tapped the rebound into an open goal. The only complaint Bromley fans could have with referee Legg was when he failed to spot McKoy being struck in the face by McFarlane at a corner, but the linesman really should have spotted this. The game crawled to a tame end and as the players walked off with the Bromley fans singing they barely acknowledged us.

The Hoteliers now go through to play Dagenham & Frankenstein, if West Ham are at home that day there will be no one there!

Quote for the game: ‘Shit ground, no fans.’

Team: Harwood, Potterill, Willy, Smith, Luckett, Harney, Drewett, McKoy, Huggins, Reid, Smith Jnr.

Subs: Butler, Kember, Watts, Amaning, Amoako.