Second half goals from Mitchell Gilbey and David Bryant ensured The Rocks’ passage through the 4th round where they will face the League 2 side.

But the visitors had to come from behind when Aveley’s man of the moment, Junior Appiah, scored his ninth goal of the season for the club to put the Millers in front early in the second half.

The goal from Appiah sparked into action what had been a somewhat lifeless game up until that point although the slippy conditions were partly to blame.

In the end though Bryant’s looping header was enough to send John Coventry’s side through at Justin Gardner’s side’s expense, but Gardner will be pleased with his side more than matching their Ryman Premier League opponents.

After the Cheshunt draw on Saturday, Gardner said that he would bet a betting man that this match with East Thurrock United wouldn’t end 0-0 with both sides conceding as well as scoring goals left, right and centre in recent weeks.

Add that to the fact that Aveley were down to the bare bones in personnel due to having a number of injured as well as cup-tied players in their squad it was looking like a potentially long night for the Millers.

And within 30 seconds of this Essex Senior Cup tie Gardner's premonition that it wouldn't be goalless almost came true when a mix up in the Aveley defence led to a chance for Kurt Smith who lobbed over the stranded Jack Giddens but over the bar as well.

After the almost calamitous start the Millers settled into the cup tie against a strong looking East Thurrock side.

John Coventry fielded six of the starting XI that won their F.A. Trophy tie 48 hours earlier but it was Aveley who created the first clear opening of the game just after the quarter hour mark.

Jason Twum pulled the ball back for Junior Appiah to dummy on the edge of the area, leaving Teddy Nesbitt to strike at goal only for David Hughes to claw onto his low effort.

It was to be the clearest chance for either side in a half that lacked any cutting edge. Although the underfoot conditions were proving tricky for both sides with passes aplenty going astray, neither side could force their way to an opening goal as we reached the break goalless.

The second half started much livelier and Alan Mabuyaku found acres of space on the Aveley right to play a low cross into a dangerous area towards Nesbitt, but Hughes got down bravely to smother the ball.

Giddens up the other end did likewise to smother a short back pass from Ryan O’Rawe which was pounced upon by David Bryant as both sides looked to break the deadlock after a tame first half.

With the prize for the winner being an away trip to League 2 Dagenham & Redbridge you expected there to be a little more urgency shown by both sides, and just before the hour mark the deadlock was finally broken by Aveley’s in-form guy, Junior Appiah.

Nesbitt on the left played a low cross into the chest of Aaron Gayle who done well to bring the ball under control. The striker’s effort on goal deflected towards the bottom corner requiring Hughes to get fingertips on the ball only for Appiah to mop up and smash home the rebound.

The goal opened the tie up and meant that East Thurrock had to come at their Ryman North opponents in search of an equaliser, and almost immediately they created two opportunities to level.

Kye Ruel had almost the entire goal to aim at with his effort which was well blocked by Mabuyaku. From the resulting corner Bryant somehow managed to head over at the far post from close range.

The blue touch paper had now been well and truly lit and Jay Leader went for the spectacular with a bicycle-kick which went narrowly wide.

But with just under a quarter of the game remaining The Rocks found their equaliser to set up a barnstorming finale.

After failing to clear their lines, Lea Dawson rose highest to head the ball into the patch of Mitchell Gilbey who calmly slotted the ball past Giddens and into the bottom corner to bring the sides level with 20 minutes still to play.

With no extra time and penalties now looking on the cards another goal was likely to have been the decider with both sides now going for the win.

But once again Aveley’s susceptibility to the aerial ball was punished as with seven minutes remaining David Bryant headed East Thurrock in front with a decisive third goal of the tie.

A clipped ball in from substitute Joseph Paxman found the head of Bryant 12 yards out. The striker leaped like the proverbial salmon to loop his header over Giddens and into the bottom corner to put the Rocks on the verge of a trip to Victoria Road.

With three minutes added on time shown, Aveley tried to throw the kitchen sink at East Thurrock but John Coventry’s side contained the Millers well.

Leader was thrown up front to act as a target man but Aveley were unable to get the ball to stick in the final third as they ran out of time and saw themselves dumped out of the Essex Senior Cup.

Aveley: Jack Giddens, Alan Mabuyaku, Sam Holloway, Jay Leader, Ryan O'Rawe, Ibrahim Manasary (Siao Blackwood 74), Aryan Tajbakhsh (Anton Stephenson 87'), Teddy Nesbitt, Aaron Gayle, Jason Twum (Shane Oakley 81'), Junior Appiah