FA CUP: East Thurrock United will get a another bite of the cherry when they travel to Carshalton Athletic tomorrow night for their second qualifying round replay.
But Rocks will be kicking themselves for not polishing off the Robins at the first attempt.
John Coventry’s side created plenty of chances to secure a win but were thwarted by visiting goalkeeper Craig Ross, who produced a series of good saves.
The high-flying Ryman One North hosts made the early running at Rookery Hill but found themselves a goal down after 37 minutes when Anthony Joseph netted.
Ross denied Rocks an equaliser with several saves but the Ryman Premier visitors’ defences were finally breached 12 minutes from time when Kris Newby latched onto a Richard Wray ball forward to finally beat Ross.
But the stopper recovered to deny Neil Richmond a winner in injury time when he turned the striker’s header over the bar.
Grays Athletic will welcome Bury Town to Rookery Hill on Wednesday night after a late Alex Osborn equaliser earned them a replay.
A quiet opening period saw neither side able to break the deadlock, although Ishmael Welsh did go close for Grays.
However, the visitors went in at half-time a goal to the good after Steve Demetriou got on the end of a cross five minutes before the break to score.
Bury got on terms through Sam Reed after being set up by James Scowcroft.
And the Suffolk hosts went in from in the 56th minute when Duran Reynolds was judged to have brought down Scowcroft. Chris Henderson scored the resulting penalty.
But Osborn bagged the equaliser in the 84th minute to give Julian Dicks’ side another stab on Wednesday evening.
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