George Martin saved a decisive penalty as Great Wakering Rovers booked another cup final date in the Essex Thameside Trophy after defeating Basildon United 5-4 on penalties in the semi-final after drawing 1-1 in ninety minutes.

Callum Boylan scored with twenty minutes remaining. Basildon United fought on and managed to grab a late equaliser with two minutes remaining via an unfortunate own goal to take the game to penalties.

Harry Talbot, Ben Search, Jack Dickinson and Shaye La-Rose dispatched their penalties away for Rovers whilst Nathen Best, Ashan Siddick, Josh Taylor and Ryan Mallett put theirs away to level the tie. However, George Martin guessed right for Kennedy Feyi's penalty as he guessed right to push his penalty past the left post. Callum stepped up for the deciding penalty and smashed his spot kick into the bottom left to send the Rovers for their second ever final in the Essex Thameside Trophy since 2002, where they were beaten by Grays Athletic on penalties.

Rovers now have two cup finals to prepare for, following their impressive cup runs in March. They only set up a date with Little Oakley in the Peter Butcher Memorial Trophy and have now penned in another final in the Essex Thameside Trophy where they will face off with Isthmian Premier side Bowers & Pitsea. The cup has been rolled over from last season as teams have been unable to book fixtures in and will now be contested between Great Wakering Rovers and Bowers & Pitsea.

Marcus Bowers made a number of changes following Saturday's narrow defeat to Stanway Rovers. They made four changes with Danny Cossington, Thomas Barton, Callum Boylan, Dom Locke and Raheem Gray reinstated into the line up with two trialists, Jack Dickinson, Oliver Jenkins and Joe Poxon on the bench.

Rovers have made it to the semi final for the third time in this competition after getting past Hullbridge Sports and Cannons Wood. This would be Basildon United's third ever semi final in this competition. They defeated Buckhurst Hill and Aveley to reach the last four.

Basildon United had been enduring a torrid time this season in the Isthmian League, they were winless in 28 games and sit third from bottom. The Bees have been through many managers this season already. Former Romford manager Dan Spinks was in the dug out after recently taking over and brought in some new additions for the tie. They were a league above and would prove to be now pushovers despite their league position.

KICKOFF:

The match would prove to be an exciting local derby as both teams went at each other. Inside the first ten minutes, Bradley Bennett managed to run down the wing and latch on a through ball but he blazed his shot way over the bar.

Sadly, Rovers were forced into an early change as Thomas Barton had to hobble off. Jack Dickinson made way.

Straight after the stoppage, Rovers went onto the front foot and almost broke the deadlock. Callum Boylan chased after a loose ball on the left and managed to skip and dribble past two defenders before cutting the ball back across goal to Harry Talbot who forced a good save from George Marsh low to his right post.

After a quarter of an hour, Basildon managed to get past the Rovers defensive line and cut inside the left into the area. Ashan Siddick went down in the area following a challenge by Harrison Topliss but the referee waved away the appeals and the ball was cleared.

Five minutes later, the visitors had another chance but Siddick blasted the ball over the bar. The forward was proving to be a thorn in the bees as he another chance when the ball dropped for him in the area following a corner. He managed to get a shot off following a goalmouth scramble but thankfully, Danny Cossington was on the line and blocked the effort which was cleared away.

With just half an hour of play gone, Rovers had another great chance of breaking the deadlock. A corner was only partially cleared outside the area and Dom Locke approached the bouncing ball and struck a sweet swerving effort from thirty yards that looked to blast into the top right corner. However, George Marsh performed an outstanding save to reach and tip the ball over the bar.

Rovers won a free kick a few minutes later on the right and Ben Search sent a dangerous curling ball into the box where Harry Talbot rosed highest to head the ball down from close range which forced Marsh to Callum Boylan who sent the rebound just over the bar.

The hosts continued to cause trouble down the left side with Shaye La-Rose causing havoc and linking up with Callum but Basildon were equal to the final balls in.

HALFTIME: Rovers 0-0 Basildon United

Inside the first ten minutes for the second half, Rovers were on the front foot and had most of the chances. Harry Talbot gained possession of the ball following a cross across the box from Bradley Bennett but but his shot was cleared.

Bradley Bennett was causing trouble for Basildon down the right flank, and sent in another cross which Callum Boylan could only head over.

After ten minutes, Basildon United were forced into a change following an injury to Shiham who had to leave the field and was replaced by Nathan Best.

With an hour played, Danny Cossington went into the referees book following a late challenge. The free kick was sent in from the left and it resulted in Ashan Siddik running through on goal to round George Martin and send a bouncing ball which seemed destined to nestle into the goal. However, Harrison Topliss wasn't going to give up and he rushed from outside the area to hook the ball off the goal line and the ball was cleared away.

Halfway through the second half, Marcus freshened things up by bringing on Oliver Jenkins and a trialist.

Basildon then had another opportunity when George Craddock rolled the ball across from thirty yards out to Ashan Siddick who smashed his shot just over the bar.

With twenty minutes of play left, Rovers broke the deadlock. Harrison Topliss surged forward through the midfield and lofted a pass through the right for Callum Boylan to run onto and slot the ball passed the advancing George Marsh into the bottom left for his nineteenth this season for the Rovers. A much needed goal for the forward who has just returned following a three week absence from injury. The opposition called for offside but their appeals fell on death ears.

Basildon United started to throw in the kitchen sink for the final fifteen minutes in search of a equaliser. Rovers were starting to get on the back foot as the visitors started to cause trouble for them.

The Bees won a free kick on the edge of the box following a foul. Scott Doe stepped up and George Martin was equal to it to save the ball comfortable. With under five minutes of play, they had another chance when after a great move down the left resulted in Tyrone Shiham running down the left and whipped the ball towards the near post to Kennedy Feyi who headed the ball just wide of the right post.

The alarm bells were ringing and with a minute left of normal time, Basildon leveled the tie. The Bees won a free kick on the right and the ball was whipped into the box. Oliver Jenkins and Harrison did their best to head the ball away but both attempts resulted in the ball looping over George Martin and dropped into the left corner of the net.

Rovers thought they won the game when they went down the other end. Callum Boylan received the ball on the left and played in Harry Talbot who turned and cut inside his defender to force a save from George Marsh. Callum Boylan tapped in the rebound but the linesman's flag was up and the late goal was disallowed.

The referee's whistle went for fulltime and the tie would be settled on penalties.

FULLTIME: Rovers 1-1 Basildon United

Ben Search won the toss and the shootout would take place in front of the Rovers' faithful.

Nathan Best stepped up first for the Bees and sent George Martin the wrong way to score the first penalty. Harry Talbot stepped up for the Rovers first penalty and sent George Marsh the wrong way and smashed his penalty into the bottom left corner. Ashan Siddick was next for Basildon and slotted his penalty away. Rovers Skipper Ben Search stepped up next and scored the penalty of the night by blasting his spot kick into the roof of the net. Josh Taylor was next for Basildon and managed to squeeze the ball under George Martin. Shaye La-Rose was next for the Rovers and sent the ball down the middle, wrong footing the unfortunate George Marsh. Ryan Mallett went next for Basildon and sent his penalty down the middle of the goal. The suspense was killing the fans. Jack Dickinson went next for the Rovers and his shot was too powerful for Marsh as he smashed his spot kick into the bottom left. Kennedy Feyi was up next for Basildon and George Martin guessed right as he pushed the ball around the post.

Callum Boylan was up for the decisive spot kick and made now mistake as he buried is penalty into the bottom right to send the Rovers through to their second ever final of Essex Thameside Trophy.

ROVERS WIN 5-4 ON PENALTIES

A great night for the Rovers and commiserations to Basildon United who fought very well. That sets up a final with Isthmian Premier side Bowers & Pitsea and that makes it two cup finals booked in a month.

Rovers will put their cup preparations on hold for the time being as they turn their attention back to league action for Saturday as they take on White Ensign at Burroughs Park.

Great Wakering Rovers FC

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