Report
Leyton Pennant bowed out of the F. A. Cup on Tuesday night at Rookery Hill. Fielding an unchanged side from Saturday for this Preliminary round replay Leyton had most of the early play, and could have
took the lead on eight minutes when Richards pounced on some poor ball control by a Thurrock defender only to see his shot saved by Root in the Thurrock goal. East Thurrock came more into what was, in the first half, a generally scrappy game and took the just on the half hour when a long through ball found Cox who crossed for Cartridge to fire passed the despairing dive of Knox.
The second half saw Thurrock start to dominate, but it was Leyton who came closest when Root saved at the feet of Marsh. Then on sixty-two minutes a Thurrock free kick from the right was crossed to the far post for Finning to crash into the top of the Leyton net. Pennants situation worsened in the sixty-ninth minute when Marsh was sent off for a tackle from behind on Cox. Leyton continued to press forward but Burns picked up a loose ball in midfield, rounded the Pennant keeper to score Thurrock’s third.
Manager Martin Busson said: ‘It was a very disappointing result but I am not going to blame the players because they gave 100% all the way through.
‘But it does get frustrating. I know we have the ability but it’s the same old story. After we conceded the first our heads went down.’