BBC Essex Senior Cup Round Three/Four Review (Tuesday November 19th) - Daggers knock out last year's runners up Col U, Urchins see off brave Rayleigh, Regent upset Millers

 

Another week and another three BBC Essex Senior Cup ties, there was one remaining Round Three tie to be played as well as two Last 16 ties (Round Four) also taking place, let's see how those games panned out on a cold November night:-

Round Three

Dagenham & Redbridge 1 Colchester United 0

This pitted Vanarama National Daggers against last seasons runners up and EFL League Two side Col U at Victoria Road in Dagenham, both sides were entering the competition at this stage, so both were trying to avoid exiting it at their first hurdle. The Us were also trying to banish the memories of last years final when they lost on penalties to Redbridge on this very ground, well after a goalless opening forty five minutes the Us were lucky to still be in the game after the hosts struck the woodwork on three occasions in the second period. It looked like penalties would be needed to settle this tie, a very familiar scenario for the visitors, but, Daggers managed to find the goal they deserved in the 87th minute when Josh Rees jumped highest from a corner kick to nod home and send last years runners up out of the competition. Daggers will now travel to Canvey Island in Round Four.

Round Four

Rayleigh Town 0 Hornchurch 2

This was arguably the hosts biggest game of their recent history, if all history as they welcomed Vanarama South side Hornchurch to Thames Road in Concord, Rayleigh, who are in the Thurlow Nunn South, have already dumped out two Essex Senior League sides on route to this Last 16 clash, but Hornchurch, four levels above their opponents, would certainly be a totally different ball game. The Urchins, who needed penalties to see of Isthmian North Maldon & Tiptree in Round Three, were certainly hoping they would not be on the end of a huge upset, and with twenty seven minutes on the clock Femi Akinwande broke the deadlock to put the visitors ahead, turning home a ball across from Ade Yusuff to ease their nerves perhaps. And with three minutes of the first half remaining Yusuff turned goal scorer this time as Akinwande returned the favour by finding the former with a lovely through ball and saw him round the keeper and side foot home to give the visitors some breathing space. In the 82nd minute the visitors had the chance to extend their lead and seal the tie when they were awarded a spot kick after the brilliant Yusuff was fouled, but Yusuff fired the spot kick wide meaning it remained 2-0 to The Urchins, which is how it finished. A solid display from the visitors who go into the Quarter Finals, and although the hosts go out, they can be proud of how they played against a side of this quality.

Brightlingsea Regent 2 Aveley 1

Isthmian North Brightlingsea Regent were giving away two levels to opponents Aveley in this one with the visitors plying their trade in the Vanarama South division, Regent had seen off fellow Isthmian North side Redbridge in Round Three, whereas Aveley also downed Walthamstow from the same division as tonight's opponents in the last round two. It was the lower league hosts who got their noses in front though after twenty four minutes through Kenzo Shabazz-Edwards, firing a low effort through a crowd of players to find the bottom corner, and just before the hour mark the hosts doubled their lead when Fletcher Alexander Hubbard converted at the near post. The Millers though soon reduced that lead, six minutes later in fact when Ibrahim Akanbi netted for the visiting side, finding the bottom corner with an angled drive, but they were unable to find a leveller meaning the hosts would progress into the Quarter Finals.

So, after Colchester's exit, both of last year's finalists go out in Round Three, Hornchurch & Brightlingsea are the first sides into the Quarter Finals after tonight's wins, that leaves six Round Four ties still to be played, most of those will be next week, below is a recap of those ties:-

Round Four fixtures

Tuesday November 26th

Heybridge Swifts Vs Witham Town

Billericay Town Vs Chelmsford City

Saffron Walden Town vs Tilbury

Hashtag United Vs Harwich & Parkeston

Wednesday November 27th

Waltham Abbey Vs Little Oakley

TBC

Canvey Island Vs Dagenham & Redbridge

Some tasty ties to come then, by next week we should know pretty much all the Quarter Finalists as the competition gets towards the business end, that's all for now, thanks for reading!!!