Blues went out of this Essex Thameside Trophy at the hands of a youthful Bowers & Pitsea surrendering a first half lead conceding three goals in a disastrous fifteen minute period cut apart by fleet footed counterattacks. The nature of defeat and underperformance by Blues is a cause for concern for Jim Cooper who was scathing in his after match comments. Cooper fielded a mix of first team youth and reserve players in his starting eleven and apart from one or two exceptions the quality of play, urgency, and commitment was sadly lacking in contrast to the youngsters in the opposition who played with verve and pace.

Blues came close in the opening minutes first through Nathan Fox testing Luke McCoy
, Stan Muguo struck the woodwork with a hooked effort.

An even opening period was broken on 26 minutes when Tony stokes put Blues in front nodding past Luke McCoy. Bowers responded well and only a smart save from Connor Pearce from Tyrone Baker denied Bowers an equaliser.

HT 1-0

Bowers upped the pace in the second period with swift counterattacks one such break resulted in the equaliser on 59 minutes, Pearce beaten at his near post by Luke Hirst. Five minutes later Baker saw his weak effort deceive Pearce to put Bowers in front. Shortly after Hirst made it three from a free kick lacking power but enough to beat Pearce.

Blues huffed and puffed to try and retrieve something from the tie but lacked the creative spark to make a breakthrough to cap a very disappointing evening .