East Thurrock United 2-3 Whitehawk

(Walker 15’, Honesty 49’: Connolly 25’, 67’, Masterton 69’)

From the FutureFuel Stadium

FA Cup 2nd Qualifying Round

EAST Thurrock United were beaten at the first time of asking in the FA Cup as they went down to National League South fellow Whitehawk.

Two goals in three second-half minutes were enough for the visitors to take the victory in the second qualifying round, after James Walker and Harry Honesty had given Rocks the lead.

Walker scored his first of the season in the 14th minute, slotting home from close range after a testing low cross from Tom Wraight, with the away goalkeeper choosing to remain on his line.

Whitehawk equalised in the 24th minute thanks to some good aerial play by Danny Mills and a little bit of fortune.

A slip in defence saw Mills head into the path of Sergio Torres who bore down on goal, but unselfishly set the ball across for Reece Connolly to finish.

East Thurrock had a golden opportunity to re-take the lead in the 28th minute, but Walker's overhead kick from a corner was scrambled away.

Three minutes after half-time, Rocks reinstated their advantage as substitute Harry Honesty was put through by Kane Ferdinand with a glancing header.

And Honesty's controlled finish ensured was unerring.

Whitehawk equalised again in the 67th minute and Connolly was gifted his second of the match.

Also from a corner, the striker smashed the ball into an empty net after Rocks goalkeeper Lukas Lidakevicius failed to collect the ball cleanly.

And two minutes later it went from bad to worse and it was the goal of the match.

A fantastic strike from Jack Masterton from 20 yards ripped into the corner.

East Thurrock United: Lidakevicius, Sammons (Marlow), Nesbitt, Clark, Ellul, Wood (Burns), Harris, Ferdinand, Walker, Gardner, Wraight (Honesty)