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| Sunday 08 October 2006 Rose & Thistle 3 East Court 6 East Court made an early start as their first round game in the Surrey Sunday Lower Junior Cup took them to Camberley and after a lacklustre first half a five goal salvo after half-time saw them through to the second round. Dan Lamprell, Nick Palmer and Richard Hayes were all unavailable with Paul Bishop, Andy Wright and Adam Shillibeer coming into the starting eleven for them. The early start to the day seemed to be affecting the visitors in the first half as East Court struggled to come to terms with their opponents formation. The midfield in particular were chasing shadows as Thistle's five man midfield constantly found a man in space. At times Court were able to put together a few passes and when they did they looked threatening down the wings but were unable to produce any real chances in front of goal. And then disaster struck. A long throw from the Thistle right was met on the edge of the six yard box and the ball flashed past Bishop into the back of the net. As the visitors reeled from the opening goal Thistle had a second disallowed for offside but it as only a temporary reprieve as Thistle scored an identical second goal to extend their lead. At last Court began to create chances, striker Ross Kelly hit the bar and skipper Simon Nickols sent a free header from a Ben Sunderland corner all the way back across the face of goal. Eventually the pressure told and five minutes before half-time East Court had a lifeline. A run by Dan Medcalf saw the ball run loose to Sunderland on the right wing. He sent a deep cross in and Billy Denyer rose to head home at the far post. With the second half only minutes old the away team were level. It was Denyer on the score sheet again, despite being closely marked he was able to get half a yard and shot early from just outside the box. The ball flew across the keeper and nestled into the far corner. East Court seemed to take their foot of the gas slightly at this point but it wasn't long before they hit the front for the first time. Carl Buckler scored his first of the afternoon after being put through by Denyer. Ross Kelly then got in on the act before Nizam's man-of-the-match Denyer completed his hattrick when he sent a volley crashing in off the underside of the crossbar. During this time Thistle had had a second goal disallowed for offside and had an effort cleared off the line by Mark Champion but eventually theywere able to get a third. A ball was played into the box from the Thistle right and East Court failed to deal with it properly again. The ball eventually found itself with a Thistle midfielder in acres of space just outside the box after a couple of half-clearances and he belted it through the crowded penalty area and into the back of the net to reduce the arrears. Almost from the kick-off Court re-established their three goal lead, Medcalf lifted the ball forward to Denyer who found his strike partner Kelly. Kelly laid the ball into the path of Buckler who took it early and fired the ball in off the far post. East Court were able to see out the remaining time without too many more scares although Thistle did come close to scoring a fourth when a long throw travelled a long way across goal but the final header wasn't on target. East Court can now look forward to another early start in the second round as they travel to either BAE Systems or Knaphill Village. Team: P.Bishop, D.Medcalf, A.Wright, A.Shillibeer (J.Nickols), M.Champion, S.Nickols, B.Sunderland, C.Zimmatore, R.Kelly, B.Denyer, C.Buckler |