Thurrock 1-2 Bowers & Pitsea

(Poole 84’: Warner 2’, 38’)

From Ship Lane

FA Trophy Preliminary Round

By Dan Thurogood

A BRILLIANT brace from Brad Warner was the difference for Bowers & Pitsea as he downed his former side Thurrock in the FA Trophy.

Two free-kicks put the away side two ahead before a Glenn Poole penalty with a few minutes remaining set up a nervy ending.

And, in his first ever FA Trophy match as player or manager, manager Rob Small was ecstatic to progress and at the impact of Warner.

“I phoned the club physio on Friday to see if we could start him and we got an hour out of him so I’m really pleased,” he said. “Both goals were tremendous and I’m glad the last few weeks we’re getting the results we deserve.”

“We came here as the underdog and of course we had to survive a barrage at the end but I feel that’s only to be expected.

“Our run in the FA Vase was superb last season (semi-finalists) so of course we can only dream of doing well again this season in the FA Trophy.”

The away side were quickest out the blocks and Warner produced a stunning free kick just a few minutes into the match.

Remi Sutton fouled Tom Hine just outside the right-hand side of the box and the Bowers forward curled a great effort into the top corner over the goalkeeper.

Falling behind seemed to galvanise the home side as they cranked up the pressure. A corner whipped seemed to be comfortable for Bobby Mason but his poor punch fell to the feet of Harry Cook who nearly took advantage of the fumble but Hine managed to clear.

Moments later Warner nearly added his second. The forward played a one two with new signing Harry Abombar and the winger’s cross found the head of Warner but his effort flew over the bar.

Cook tested Mason with a 30-yard effort just after the half-hour mark which clipped the outside of the post as the light drizzle made things more difficult for both keepers.

Just before half-time Warner did it again. A similar position to the first goal but this time he found the other corner from 25 yards.

He sent the ball over the wall and dipped it back down to find the top left-hand corner. Junior Baker was booked for the foul on Ben Sartain and the Bowers forward did the rest.

The home side nearly responded before the interval as Cook’s header from eight yards hit the roof of the net but it was 2-0 at the break.

Thurrock nearly got back into it on the hour. Ross Wall’s header was so close to reaching the far corner after an initial corner had been put in but Mason dived down low to his right to deny him and produced a top save.

Fleet had a glorious chance to get back into the match on the hour. Cook was pushed by former team-mate Lewis Clark in the box after James Goode’s cross was put into a dangerous area, but Ross Gleed missed the resulting spot kick with Mason making a comfortable save low to his right.

Thurrock were awarded a second penalty with a few minutes remaining which Poole duly dispatched to set up a close finish.

James Goode’s cross was handled by Luke Wilson and the substitute drilled into the bottom right hand corner giving the Bowers keeper no chance.

But Bowers survived a late onslaught to seal progression into the next round.

Bowers & Pitsea: Mason, Hine, Waters, Stokes, Clark, Sartain, Russell, Stevens, Manor, Warner, Agombar