THERE was a consummate display by East Thurrock who dominated their fellow Ryman Premier visitors Hastings United from the off and knocked them out of the FA Trophy with a 4-0 win.

After 12 minutes of almost constant pressure Rocks got the opener they deserved when Tom Stephen swapped passes with Sam Higgins before crossing for Kye Ruel to head home from close range.

The second came in the 18th when Ruel clipped the ball across goal from an acute angle and Hakeem Araba rose at the far post to nod in a point-blank header.

It took Hastings 25 minutes to have a shot at goal, though Bradley Goldberg’s effort was high and wide.

Lee Carey’s effort a minute later from all of 40 yards was even further away from the target.

Hastings keeper Matt Armstrong-Ford did well to beat out Reiss Gilbey’s strike and then Araba’s follow-up on 30 minutes.

Sam Higgins sent a 51st minute screamer from distance just over before the hosts scored their third when a long ball from keeper Richard Wray was held up by Higgins before he laid it into the path of Araba who showed composure at pace to side-foot the ball past Armstrong-Ford.

Hastings almost pulled one back but Jono Richardson’s close range shot was saved by Richard Wray, and the keeper’s quick kick-out led to a fourth goal for his side as Higgins shrugged off a defender and hammered it home.

Hastings had a couple of half chances in the closing stages but Rocks saw out time comfortably to earn a place in the next round and stretch their unbeaten run to six matches.

East Thurrock: Wray, Sammons, Stephen, Peddie, Sheehan, Parmenter, Newby, Gilbey (Keith 88), Higgins, Araba, Ruel (Hall).

Echo MOM: Hakeem Araba (East Thurrock).