Rocks rumbled, Aveley rambled!

JUST four days after these sides fought out an exhilarating Ryman Premier League clash at Earlsmead Saturday's FA Cup first round qualifier was an altogether more tense affair.

The only similarity, other than an early goal for Boro, was the outcome as the visitors to Rookery Hill picked up victory by the odd goal and also a cheque for £2,250.

As on Tuesday, Harrow were quick out of the blocks and opened their account after just six minutes.

The home defence were static as Boro countered quickly and though they managed to block Elliott Onochie's strike at goal the ball broke for Victor Asombang who produced a smart finish.

Rocks undoubtedly had the better of the rest of the half but squandered several chances, most notably when Jon Turnbull shot over when well placed.

After the break Boro were torn between defending their lead and going for second and there was some lethargic play from both sides.

However the second goal eventually came on 76 minutes when Onochie was put through again and this time he made the most of the opportunity.

East Thurrock, with subs Danny Harris and newcomer Steve Butterworth making an impact, tried hard to drag the tie back from the dead and were given late hope when Harris capitalised on visiting keeper Keita Karamoko only being able to palm away a shot from Scott Holding and he knocked the ball home from close range.

It was the beginnings of a recovery but unfortunately, though they pressed hard, Rocks couldn't force a second despite having most of the play in five minutes of added time and they left most of a disappointing crowd of 96 to wend their way home with heads down.

Rocks co-manager Lee Patterson was disconsolate too. "We talked about it before the game and in training but we are still making too many individual errors. We've stepped up in status this season and unfortunately what got us here isn't going to be good enough on its own.

"We have to step up another gear and raise our concentration at both ends. Errors at the back are catching us out and though we are creating plenty of opportunities at the other end we aren't converting the chances," he said.

Other matches:

Aveley 1, Burnham Ramblers 2

AVELEY'S wretched start to the season took another turn for the worse in Saturday's FA Cup first round qualifier.

Struggling close to the foot of the Southern League Division One Easr, Aming Levitt's team would have been relishing a morale-boosting FA Cup run and the arrival of Essex Senior League opposition, albeit in the shape of enterprising and ambitious Burnham, wouldn't have been the worst draw.

However it was the underdogs who had the loudest bark and the Millers' misery goes on.

Burnham marginally had the best of the first half and but the best chance fell to Millers only for Ryan Lee to spurn his opportunity, shooting straight at keeper Rob Small.

Ramblers lifted their game on the restart and began to push Aveley back, getting their reward in quick time when Daniel Jones met Tim O'Reilly's low cross to blast a close range shot into the net despite the despairing efforts of keeper Marc Palmer.

And the provider turned finisher 14 minutes later when O'Reilly was put through and he produced a textbook finish to leave Palmer floundering.

Only then did Aveley begin to show a real passion and their improved effort was rewarded with 14 minutes left when Simon Thomas netted.

With time running down Miller threw everything at Ramblers but the closest they came to closing the gap was a late strike by John Purches that sailed inches over the bar.

Tilbury 8 London APSA 1

TILBURY produced a goalfest against a thoroughly unimpressive London APSA with Docker Paul Cobb producing a perfect hat-trick - one with his left, one with his right and a header to round it off.

It's a victory that lifts Dockers to third in the table with seven points, but their two victories have come at home against the bottom two clubs and manager Tony Cross won't be getting carried away, with APSA particularly producing an abject display at Chadfields on Saturday.

However, whatever the opposition, they still have to be despatched and Danny Exley sparked the destruction on APSA with a diving header from Keith Wilson's cross after just four minutes.

The lead doubled two minutes later when a cross from Terry Harris drifted straight in. APSA, albeit briefly, showed some spark and held out for the next half hour, even having the temerity to notch themselves with Steve Clark calmly side-footing home from the edge of the box after confusion in the home defence.

However normal service was resumed on 31 minutes Cobb started his goals crusade with his left boot after more good work by Wilson. Cobb's second, a few minutes later, was a thunderous right foot shot and provider Wilson turned scorer himself just before the break with an incisive near post run.

Tilbury made another bright start after the break and Carl Fannon added the sixth after just three minutes of play.

Cobb departed the action shortly after heading his hat-trick, meeting another Wilson cross at the near post, on the hour mark and his replacement Yeboah Afrari completed the scoring soon after.

Dockers were in jubilant mood afterwards but know that a more serious test of their promotion ambitions comes later this month when they meet leaders Hornchurch, Burnham Ramblers and fancied Waltham Abbey in quick succession.

Weymouth 2 Thurrock 0

WITH much more impressive form away from home than at Ship Lane, Thurrock travelled to Weymouth in optimistic frame of mind.

However the writing was on the wall in the early stages as the home side began strongly and 'Fleet keeper Glenn Knight had to be at his best to keep out Steve Knight.

Despite being under pressure for much of the half Thurrock held out to the break but their resistance was finally ended just before the hour mark when Roy O'Brien headed down a cross from Darren Wheeler and striker Wayne Purser, the former Peterborough, Hornchurch, QPR, Barnet, Leyton Orient player, was on hand to fire home.

Thurrock rarely looked like getting back into the match and could well have conceded more before Purser turned provider for Wheeler with eight minutes left and he converted from close range.