In the second ESL Reserve Shield semi final East Thurrock United took on AFC Hornchurch for a place in Sunday's final against Southend Manor.
The game began slowly and the first effort on goal was on 10 minutes when an inswinging corner almost found it's way in but the keeper got across to beat the ball away from goal.
On 12 minutes Thurrock got into the box on the right and the effort on goal was parried out by the keeper but it somehow invaded both Thurrock players coming in for the rebound. The urchins were finding the home sides imswinging corners tricky to deal with and on 15 minutes were almost embarassed as the defender on the nearpost almost miskicked one of these set pieces into the net, but it came back of the post allowing the clearance to be made.
Hornchurch's only moment inside Thurrock's penalty area in the first half came on 20 minutes when they had a shout for handball but if truth be told it was kind of half hearted and neither referee or linesman was interested.
Hornchurch were finding it tough to get out of their own half for large parts of the first half and on 35 minutes came the closest to a goal, apart from the striking of the post earlier on. Thurrock again got in down the right but again the keeper saved well. A minute later only a last ditch block denying a shot on target as the ball was deflected over the bar and then from a cross the keeper almost spilled the ball over the line but managed to get back and smother the ball before it went further.
Thurrock continued to press although without much quality in their play if truth be told. It was a game lacking quality somewhat so both teams would need to up the anti in the second period.
Hornchurch did try and get forward a bit more in the second half although the first attempt at goal they produced on 54 minutes was from a corner which was headed miles over, which kind of summed up their evening to that point. On 57 minutes they had another chance when the ball was flashed across the six yard box but it flew harmlessly away from danger.
On the hour Thurrock nearly took the lead when first of all an attempt on goal was deflected just over and from the resulting corner there was a goalmouth scramble but Hornchurch managed to keep Thurrock at bay once again.
On 62 minutes the ball was finally in the net, but alas Thurrock's forward Ngandu was rigthly flagged for offside so it didn't count. The game had become very scrappy with poor passing and wasting of possesion not helping the contest as a specticle.
On 72 minutes Thurrocks Maskell had a sight of goal but as he went to take another touch he slipped over so the chance was gone. It really looked as though this game was heading for a 0-0 draw and extra time,such was the poor quality from both teams. But then suddenly a moment of real quality brought the first goal of the contest. On 79 minutes Thurrock sub Ashley Webb let fly with a thunderbolt of a shot from about 25 yards out which went in off the underside of the bar, a great strike, and totally out of character for this game.
Three minutes later and the tie was almost over. Jason Ngandu got through and was brought down by the Hornchurch keeper for a penalty, which resulted in a booking for the stopper. Jason Ngandu picked himself up and converted the penalty for a 2-0 lead for the home side.
It should of been 3-0 on 86 minutes when Maskell found himself all alone in the box but his header was straight at the keeper. Thurrock then almost gifted Hornchurch a lifeline on 88 minutes when the keeper came and headed away but straight towards an opposing player but luckerly his returning lob went miles over the bar.
The game then drifted along towards its conclustion and started to get a bit silly in stoppage time but after some handbags the referee booked three players, which seemed to take an eternity. Finally after about seven minutes of stoppage time the referee blew the whistle for the end of the game. So it will be East Thurrock that contest the Reserve Shield Final against Southend Manor on Sunday at Takeley FC.
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