THURROCK recorded their first win of the Isthmian Premier League season as they saw off Dorking Wanderers.
A Charlie Stimson brace, along with a Ronnie Winn strike, was enough for Fleet to claim all three points and a 3-2 victory.
Matt Briggs was proving dangerous on the Dorking Wanderers wing, and Tom Tolfrey hit the crossbar with his first time shot from a Briggs cross.
However, the Dorking frontman was flagged offside by the linesman and the strike would not have counted had it found the back of the net.
And Thurrock were to take the lead on 18 minutes.
Dennis Oli picked up the ball on the left wing and floated the ball into a loaded penalty area. The Wanderers clearance was high and short and Stimson rose above his marker and nodded the ball into the top corner.
Winn came close to doubling Fleet's advantage just a minute later, but he sent a Stimson cross just wide of the target.
Tolfrey got the visitors back on level terms after 36 minutes as Joe Bruce was adjudged to have pushed an opponent.
The striker's penalty was saved by Tim Brown, but the effort span back across the line to leave the Thurrock goalkeeper distraught.
But Stimson was to double his tally for the day as he nodded home a Reece Morgan cross two minutes before half-time.
Fleet were not content with a one-goal lead and Winn was to net the hosts' third of the game after 79 minutes.
Glenn Poole gained possession 30 yards from goal and spotted Winn’s surge from deep. A weighted through ball was taken down by the striker, before finding the back of the net.
Briggs cut in from the left channel and finished well from the edge of the penalty area to reduce the arrears in the second minute of stoppage time, but Thurrock held on for a deserved three points.
Meanwhile, Grays Athletic and Tilbury advanced in the FA Cup after picking up preliminary round wins.
Grays took on Redbridge at Parkside and it was the Essex Senior League who made a bright start.
But Perry Dunn went close for the home side, only to see his goalbound header strike Kieran Bishop and rebound to safety.
However, Grays were to break the deadlock moments later.
In the 38th minute, Sully Zuhdu struck the goal his promising performance deserved.
Barry Cogan started the move by threading a searching ball to Zuhdu, who nodded the ball forward and cleverly volleyed past Lewis Greene to give Grays some breathing space.
Buoyed by the goal, Grays created another opportunity when Bishop flicked the ball into the path of James Folkes, who nodded the ball just wide of the upright.
In the dying moments of the first half, Folkes was stretchered off after catching his foot in the Parkside artificial turf.
Joao Carlos put the game beyond Redbridge six minutes after the interval, as he found the back of the net following good play from Keirnan Hughes-Mason and Ade Cole.
Grays pushed for a third but settled for a 2-0 win to progress in the competition.
Tilbury travelled to Bury Town full of confidence after coming from behind to beat Canvey Island in midweek.
And goals in either half allowed the Dockers to register a 2-1 win.
Adam Vyse put Gary Henty's side in front after 15 minutes.
Luke Hornsley, who joined in the summer following a spell with Isthmian North rivals Heybridge Swifts last term, added a second on the hour mark.
As a result, Tilbury will be in the hat for the FA Cup draw that will take place tomorrow.
However, Aveley's FA Cup campaign was brought to a premature end as they suffered a convincing defeat to AFC Sudbury.
Terry Spillane's side fell to a 4-0 defeat thanks to two Sudbury strikes in either half.
Julian Smith put the home side in front after 27 minutes, while Adam Mills made it 2-0 three minutes before the break.
Dave Cowley got his name on the scoresheet on the hour mark and Alfie Carroll completed the scoring nine minutes later.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here