Hungerford Town 1, East Thurrock United 1

A goal apiece in the opening minutes, and with the knowledge that the visitors had rattled an amazing 7 goals past Bath City in the F.A.Cup the previous week, this looked likely to be a high-scoring game, but both defences tightened up and made few more mistakes, so that there were no further goals, and few real chances the game ending in a draw, which was a fair result, so we face a difficult trip round the M.25 on Tuesday evening to settle this tie, something we could have done without.
The two sides have not met since our Ryman League days over 10 years ago, but that Bath City result looked ominous and the visitors were expected to put on a good performance as they prepared for that long trip to Hartlepool in the first round of the F.A.Cup, a great achievement whatever happens on the division 2’s ground on Saturday. We could not have had a better start, however and when Alan O’Brien’s pass had the defence in a real muddle, Charlie Mpi (pictured) was there to tap in the easiest of goals. Our own defence, missing Jon Boardman in the middle, did not look too secure either, and were all at sea when Reece Harris scored from close range in the 14th.minute to level the scores. Paul Strudley saved well from Lewis Smith, but we almost retook the lead right on half-time when David Hughes finger-tipped a great shot from Ian Herring just over the bar, but we failed to profit from the resulting corner.
O, Brien sent Mpi through at the start of the second half, but he squared the ball instead of shooting and the chance was lost. David Bryant shot wide for the visitors, but Diak John was unlucky when he broke down the wing but his shot was deflected off a defender for a corner. The two sides were evenly matched and neither could create a clear opening, although Mark Draycott shot straight at the keeper and when Mpi headed back into the middle, no one could take advantage. Perhaps the best chance fell to Ryan Sammons when he took advantage of a deflection off an opponent and burst through only to shoot wide, and a Strudley save following an East Thurrock corner ensured that a replay would now be necessary.
Team;Strudley, Horgan, John, Rusby, Day,Clark, Smith(Cann), Herring( Stow ),Mpi, Draycott, O’Brien. Subs; Goodger, Rees, Pilling.