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Who progresses to the fourth round? The Moors or the Rocks?

By Ethan Ames

A trip to Essex’s awaits for Spennymoor Town in a FA Trophy replay against East Thurrock United at the FutureFuel Stadium on the 6th February.

The first tie between the sides ended in a 1-1 settlement between the two teams with goals coming from Lewis Smith for the Rocks and Andrew Johnson for the Moors.

East Thurrock town go into this clash on the back on a bad run of form after losing 3 of their last 5 matches including a 7-2 thrashing away to Oxford City leaving Thurrock sitting 13th in the South National League.

The Rocks will have to manage though without on loan defender Michael Clark who begins to serve his suspension after a late last man foul resulting in a red card.

East Thurrock manager John Coventry spoke to Echo news on their reply against the Moors:

“These are the games people want to play in and I am not thinking about the quarter-final. You would expect Bromley to come through that but that match doesn’t matter at the moment.

The away trip is about staying in and we have done that so I don’t now want the players to think this is the easier bit. Spennymoor’s home and away record is very good so it will be tough.”

The Moors however go into this match on a run of good from remaining undefeated in their last six matches. (3W, 3D)

Spennymoor will be without midfielder Mark Anderson for the tie after he picked up a hamstring strain and new signing Nathan Lowe is cup tied and is yet to make his first appearance for the club

Spennymoor’s manager of the month for the North Vanarama National League Jason Ainsley, Spoke to the National league about their previous match:

“It was mixed emotions for me, the first-half we weren’t good enough. It felt a little bit flat, we have to do it again on Tuesday night now, and we have fallen short of the standards we have set. We have got good players, we were second to every ball and challenge during the first-half.

We scored a great goal and Johnson has done it again, now we look forward to the replay.”

The replay will be played on the 6th of February with the winning side advancing into the fourth round of the competition to face either Workington Reds or Bromley.

What do you think?