Yes its that time of year when the FA Cup rolls into town for the 2013-14 season and see’s Rovers take on Essex neighbours Halstead Town FC ,who ply their trade in the Thurlow Nunn First Division, in this Extra Preliminary Round.

Rovers named an unchanged side from the team which won at Bowers in the league on the previous Tuesday which gave a clear indication that they are taking the visitors very seriously and are taking nothing for granted. With both teams entering the fray and a trip to Brentwood at stake in the next round the conditions were very blustery indeed.

The visitors kicked off and the early exchanges were very even with Halstead looking very well organised and disciplined and it was they who were presented with the first meaningful chance when Stuart Hepburn, who was nursing a damaged ankle, gave away a free kick which was delivered superbly only for the Halstead forward line to be caught off side.

On eleven minutes Rovers attacked when Ash Hawkins muscled his way through the visitors defence and knock it around visiting keeper Jack Cherry who dived and clipped Ash’s foot sending him sprawling giving referee Tony King no option but to point to the spot for a penalty to Rovers.
Step forward the man of the moment Billy Johnson who calmly converted the spot kick to make it Rovers 1-0 Halstead.

This didn’t deter Halstead who’s play belied their lower league status who immediately attacked and won a corner. The corner was cleared by James Pugsley who is having a good run in the team. Halstead picked up the ball again firing in a cross which was cleared again this time by the towering header of Nick Skelton only for the big centre back to land awkwardly injuring his shoulder in the process. After a bit of treatment Skelts returned. Our centre backs seem to be taking some punishment lately but these boys are tough and continue onwards.

The visitors continue to play well and have a good spell of possession and Rovers looked a little uneasy and when the home side did push forward the final ball was missing Halstead would clear comfortably.
Assistant Manager Gary Ansell began to get a little animated with the home sides lack of playing the ‘easy ball’ and that the hobbling Stu Hepburn was giving him concerns however in the next couple of attacks Pugsley, Trenkel, and Johnson all had chances one of which saw defence turn into attack with Halstead breaking away only for Neil Miller to deliver a poor cross going straight out for a goal kick.

As the half drew to an end Rovers began to settle with Max Kent and Jay Smith linking up well ,they appear to have developed a good understanding, Smith played the ball to Johnson who was clattered from behind by Halsteads Ash John Baptiste. Somehow the defender escaped a booking. Max Kent delivered a decent ball in which was cleared.

After two minutes of added time referee King blew for half time with Rovers going into the break with a slender 1 goal advantage.

Rovers kicked of the second half with no changes made by either side and again it was Halstead with the first chance of the half with a Jordan Hutchings effort producing a good save from Adam Seal.
On forty nine minutes the energetic Billy Radley wins a corner for Rovers which was played short by Kent to Trenkel, and the latters cross was met by the head of the on fire Billy Johnson who heads in via the underside of the cross bar to give the home side a 2-0 lead.

The visitors continued to play well and on fifty minutes Player Manager Trenkel picked up a booking for persistent fouling and on fifty two minutes Halsteads James Murray also picked up a booking for a crude challenge on the already struggling Stu Hepburn in what the Wakering faithful described as a ‘forwards challenge’. Hepburn was ok.

As the half wore on the home sides class began to show through as Halstead appeared to begin to tire and on sixty minutes Trenkel found himself one on one with Jack Cherry only for the keeper to produce a fine save then Ash Hawkins saw his effort on 62 minutes cleared off the line.

Halstead then made two changes with Tom Cook and James Murray being replaced by Scott Kemp and John Root.

On sixty six minutes the home sides pressure paid off again with Dan Trenkel firing in a third after a good move and cross by Billy Johnson.
The visitors made another change in what looked like a damage limitation exercise as Ash John Baptiste, who had put in a shift, was replaced by Tyler Kemp.
The Villagers continued to dominate the game and on seventy five minutes that man again, Billy Johnson, fired in a superb left foot shot for a Rovers fourth and his hat-trick. Thats six in three now for the prolific Johnson who really does seem to have put his injury nightmare of last year behind him. Great stuff Billy!!
On eighty minutes Rovers made their first change of the game when Dan Williams came on for the man of the moment Billy Johnson who got a fantastic ovation from the Rovers faithful as he came off.

Rovers continued to cruise when on eighty five minutes Jay Smith, who had a very effective game, was replaced by Joe Skeels. Jay seems to have really settled well since his arrival.

With the visitors resigned to defeat Rovers stroked the ball around at will when in stoppage time Billy Radley won a free kick in a dangerous postion. Max Kent stepped up to take the free kick and there appeared only one thing on his mind. Kent placed his free kick wide of keeper Cherry into the bottom corner and cap off a great performance by himself to make it 5-0 to Rovers.

A minute later referee King blew the full time whistle on what was a thoroughly professional job done by the home side against a plucky visitor and the score remained Rovers 5-0 Halstead Town.
So Rovers set up an encounter with Brentwood in the next round which will see us as underdogs this time however this is the FA Cup and as we know anything can happen in the worlds oldest cup competition.

ROVERS
1. Adam Seal
2. James Pugsley
3. Max Kent
4. George Artemi
5. Stuart Hepburn
6. Nick Skelton (c)
7. Billy Radley
8. Jay Smith
9. Dan Trenkel
10. Ashley Hawkins
11. Billy Johnson

12. Dan Williams (On for Johnson, 80)
14. Joe Skeels (On for Smith, 85)
15. Harry Skinner (on for Hepburn 86)

HALSTEAD TOWN:Jack Cherry, Andy Joslin, James Regan, Ash John Baptiste, Lewis Cunliffe, Gareth Thomas, Neil Miller, Tom Barry, Tom Cook, James Murray, Jordan Hutchings.
Substitutes: Ash Drew, Tyler Kemp, Scott Kemp, Ian Foulger, John Root, Jordan Palmer, Ash Goss

Bookings:
Rovers: Dan Trenkel (foul, 50)
Halstead Town: James Murray (foul, 52)

Sent Off: N/A

Referee: Tony King
Assistants: Phil Miles & Cajetan Anyanwu

Attendance:

Rovers Man of the Match: Billy Johnson