FA Cup First Qualifying Round: Hornchurch 1 East Thurrock 1

A late equaliser from substitute Carl Rook spared Hornchurch’s blushes in an even encounter against East Thurrock at Bridge Avenue.

And both teams will be happy to get a second opportunity to progress to the next round in the replay on Tuesday after a tight contest with plenty of passion on display from both sets of players.

The early stages of the match had few chances and was a relatively scrappy affair with referee Ian Bentley trying to let the game flow despite a few tough challenges.

The first major moment of controversy came in the 38th minute when Lea Dawson’s late tackle on Hornchurch’s Stefan Payne sparked a melee between the teams and ended with both players being booked.

Urchins had beaten Rocks 3-0 in their Ryman Premier Division meeting a week earlier but were struggling to get a foothold on this tie at the break.

The visitors started the second half brightly and were rewarded with the opening goal in controversial fashion when David Bryant was brought down in the penalty area by Elliot Styles in the 58th minute.

Surprisingly, despite speaking to his linesman, Bentley did not send off Styles but Tom Stephen scored from the resulting spot-kick and from that point Rocks took charge of the match.

The introduction of Rook in the 60th minute did not have the desired impact Jimmy McFarlane was looking for as former Urchin Leon McKenzie and Stephen forced Hornchurch goalkeeper Inigo Echepare into good saves.

But Urchins got their equaliser in the 77th minute when Payne drove to the byline and cut the ball back for the oncoming Rook to slot home at the near post.

The hosts went in search of the winner but Rocks defended well and the closing moments went by with neither goalkeeper having to make a meaningful save.

Hornchurch: Echepare, Coyne (Rook 60), Bentley, Hayles, Styles, Curley, Duncan (May 46), Starkey, Payne, Purcell (Yusuff 66), Bourne.

East Thurrock: Behcet, Sammons, Stephen, Peddie, Sheehan, Dawson, Korangteng (Gilbey 79), Thurgood, McKenzie, Bryant (Eagle 87), Witherspoon.