EAST THURROCK UNITED 2 BRAINTREE TOWN 5

FA Trophy second round proper

Michael Cheek’s hat-trick made sure that the odds wouldn’t be upset as Braintree Town moved a step closer to Wembley with a 5-1 FA Trophy win at East Thurrock United.

As the higher-placed side, the Vanarama National League visitors started as favourites against their National League South opponents and they ended up as comfortable winners as they booked their place in the last 16 of the competition.

It wasn’t a result that always looked likely, though, as East Thurrock pressed the Iron in the opening stages and Braintree were thankful to the heroics of keeper Sam Beasant for keeping things level early on.

However, an unstoppable free-kick from Cheek was the first of two goals for the Iron’s leading scorer just before half-time and he killed things off with a third within a minute of the second half starting.

East Thurrock did hit back with a Sam Higgins penalty, but further strikes from Jack Midson and Lee Barnard meant Higgins’ late second was only a consolation and there could be no doubt who deserved to be in Monday’s draw for the third round.

Braintree made three changes for the game from the side that started the 1-0 win against Sutton United in the league on Tuesday.

Alex Henshall had his full debut after joining from Margate, while Jake Goodman was back for his first start after recovering from a hamstring problem and Norwich loanee Ebou Adams returned after a three-match suspension.

The players dropped out were Ian Gayle, who wasn’t involved in the match day squad, and Lee Barnard and Sam Corne moved to the bench.

It was a positive start from Braintree, who had to adjust from a low slanting sun into their faces in the opening half.

They tried to get hold of the ball and play it around, but the clingy nature of the pitch made that a bit difficult.

The game had survived an early morning pitch inspection after the bad weather seen in the preceding days and while it looked firm, the players had to be careful with their footing.

It meant both sides took a while to really settle and subsequently that the game didn’t find a pattern in the opening stages.

The Rocks started to carve out some good chances as they managed to press Braintree back, though, with Reece Harris looking a threat down the home side’s right.

On 15 minutes, he sent in a looping cross and Adams has to head over his own crossbar to prevent the ball dipping in and the East Thurrock winger went even closer two minutes later.

Harris cut in from the right and, with his left foot, curled a shot through a group of players, that saw Iron keeper Sam Beasant have to make a wonderful save to keep out.

It was a breath-taking save by Beasant, who must have seen the ball late and had to fling himself at full stretch to push the ball away to safety.

It kept the deadlock in place and the game became decidedly scrappy as both sides struggled to gain too much superiority on the testing surface.

So it wasn’t too much surprise that when the opening goal did come that it came from a set piece.

It was in the 39th minute when it did arrive after Adams was fouled by Ben Marlow in a central position just outside the East Thurrock area.

Up stepped the Iron’s leading scorer, Michael Cheek, to curl the ball beautifully with pace and power into the top corner.

Lukas Lidakevicius had no chance in the East Thurrock goal and it gave Braintree the advantage that they wanted ahead of the half-time break.

They probably would have been happy with that, but things got better in the last minute of the half.

A ball forward from Adams fell between the Rocks' back line and keeper Lidakevicius, but rather than skipping on to the home custodian, it stuck in the surface and allowed Cheek to nip in and close him down.

Lidakevicius' attempted clearance cannoned off Cheek and into his path, allowing him to stride forward and have the simplest of tap-ins to get his second of the game.

The second goal was a definite blow for the hosts, who would probably have felt aggrieved not to go in level at the break, let alone two down.

They did try to get back in the last few moments of the half and pressure on the Braintree goal ended with a scramble area and an acrobatic attempt by former Witham Town winger Tom Wraight that clattered off the Iron crossbar.

East Thurrock manager John Coventry would have demanded more of that at the start of the second half and definitely not for his team to concede a third goal, but that’s exactly what happened.

With just 50 seconds on the clock, Cheek caught the home defence napping, raced on to a through ball, took it round Lidakevicius and tucked it home to complete his hat-trick.

Braintree were suddenly coasting, but the game took another twist a couple of minutes later as referee Chris O’Donnell spotted a handball in the Iron area from a corner.

He immediately pointed to the spot and Sam Higgins stepped up to confidently slam the ball into the net.

Home tails were suddenly up and the game was back on, however, a fourth Braintree goal in the 56th minute effectively slammed that door shut.

A lovely break saw Kris Twardek lay the ball off to Sean Clohessy, who looped a delightful cross in to where Jack Midson headed for goal.

The ball looped over Lidakevicius and off the cross bar, but fell invitingly to Midson to head in at the second time of asking as the Iron took a 4-1 advantage.

It was a hammer blow for the hosts and Braintree now had complete control of the tie.

They maintained that stranglehold and went further ahead in the 76th minute after some wonderful play out wide by Twardek.

The Millwall loanee rode several challenges and pulled the ball back invitingly to where Lee Barnard was waiting to unleash a fierce drive into the net.

It put Braintree 5-1 ahead and when Higgins got a late second for the hosts, it was only a consolation and it is Braintree who will be watching the third round draw with the greatest interest at 10.30am on Monday.

Braintree Town: Sam Beasant, Jerome Okimo, Sean Clohessy, Jake Goodman, Manny Parry, Jack Midson, Chez Isaac, Alex Henshall (Joe Maybanks 73), Kris Twardek, Ebou Adams (Kyron Farrell 75), Michael Cheek (Lee Barnard 66).

Subs not used: Sam Corne, Danny Rumens.

Referee: Christopher O’Donnell.