NO SOONER had the announcement been made, the applause started and David Hughes was back in action, unable to really savour his moment.

As the tannoy voice at Victoria Park named Hughes as man of the match following an inspired performance from start to finish, the 22-year-old was instantly back flinging himself across goal to keep out another Hartlepool United shot.

Hughes was the busiest man on the pitch as East Thurrock’s FA Cup adventure ended in the north east; he was also the most impressive.

From the fifth minute when he pushed away a teasing cross into the six-yard area, to the final seconds as he again denied Marlon Harewood a goal, Hughes was brave, agile and busy.

His best moments came on 40 minutes. Harewood, the former West Ham United forward, fired at goal from 20 yards. Hughes pushed it away well.

Jonathan Franks collected the ball and crossed for Harewood to plant a header at goal from eight yards – Hughes saved again.

He denied Franks, bravely diving at his feet to divert a shot over and did the same in the second half when Michael Duckworth burst into the area.

He made one second half stop, again keeping out Franks, which he had no right to make, flinging himself to his right across goal when the attacker was presented with a tap in into an empty net.

But he was beaten twice. First when Franks ran from deep through the midfield, and his low shot arrowed into the bottom corner.

The second goal, with four minutes to go, was harsh on the keeper. Harewood’s cross into the area seemed to be covered, but he allowed it to slip from his grasp and Franks nodded in to end the Rocks’ dream.

To their credit, and they were applauded off the pitch by the home team and crowd, they never stopped going and caused some edgy moments for Pools.

And they could have taken the lead against the team at the foot of the Football League.

Left winger Mitchell Gilbey cut in from the flank and found space between the Pools’ defenders. His low shot was tipped onto the foot of the post by goalkeeper Scott Flinders and, as 104 travelling fans behind the goal started to celebrate, the ball came back into play.

It was as close as they came to scoring, but in the second half, trailing by a goal, they enjoyed their best spell of the game.

With the home crowd getting nervous, the Rocks pressed Pools back. They picked up all the second balls and were on top. But for all their effort and endeavour, the nous and experience of the professionals – Sam Collins and Neil Austin at the heart of the defence had over 1,000 games between them – stood firm to keep them at bay.

Some of the Rocks’ squad stayed in the north east and had a night out in Newcastle after the game. They will have deserved every drink they had.