HORNCHURCH 0 WEALDSTONE 0
Debuts for Reece Prestedge and Duane Jackman. And for the first time this season Hornchurch did not kick towards the windmill end in the first half. A surprisingly large following from Wealdstone, but a not so good home turnout, thanks to Arsenal being on TV.

Hornchurch started well, winning a first minute corner, Hunt’s kick drifting across with no one able to get a head to the ball. A touch by Hunt back to Wayne Gray and an excellent centre to Andy Tomlinson, who turned, picked his spot and then hit his shot too high and over the bar. Two long throws by Lee Chappell both ended up safely in the grasp of Darren Behcet, and at the other end a Billy Coyne cross saw Thomas just beat Tomlinson to the ball. A shot by E’Beyer was saved by Behcet, a deflection taking the sting out of the ball en route, but for the most part it was Urchins who dominated the play.

An excellent lay back by Jo Flack found Jonathan Hunt, whose vicious first time shot brought a magnificent save from Thomas, and a Wayne Gray cross found Reece Prestedge whose header went inches over the bar. And a minute later Gray crossed to Tomlinson who laid the ball back to Prestedge, and Reece drove his shot just a fraction too high and over the bar. A Michael Spencer centre went too close to a very much on form Thomas, and a Flack shot was blocked by Massey as Hornchurch piled on the pressure. Hunt saw another hard shot well saved and then a good run by Forbes saw him play the ball inside to Lafayette, whose shot was saved by Behcet.

Elliot Styles was penalised for a hard tackle, and John Purdie received an injury which meant a reshuffle in defence, with Mark Goodfellow coming on. An inswinging corner by McCoy was well held by Behcet who then played the ball deep upfield where Gray headed on to Flack, only for Thomas to once again make an excellent save to keep the visitors in the match. Goodfellow headed away another inswinging corner from McCoy, a Flack shot was well saved at the other end, and almost on half time Tomlinson played Prestedge through and Reece hammered his shot just over the bar.

Gray won a corner at the start of the second half, but Hunt could not find a home player with his kick, and then Hunt hit a free kick too high and the ball sailed over the bar. Wealdstone almost took a shock lead when Spendlove found James Gray with a good centre, and the Darren Behcet made a magnificent one handed save to prevent Gray’s well placed header from entering the net, Billy Coyne completing the clearance.

Spendlove then played a quick return pass with Gray, and fell dramatically inside the area, earning himself a yellow card from an unimpressed referee. This led to a spell of intense pressure on the visiting goal, with crosses from first Prestedge and then Coyne causing some frantic defending, before a Flack goalbound shot was charged down. A long penetrating pass from Prestedge saw Gray race away, and Thomas rushed out of goal to turn the ball out for a corner, appeals for a penalty being waved away. Hunt took the kick and Goodfellow put his header narrowly over the bar. Another McCoy inswinging corner was held by Behcet, and then Gray won a corner, Hunt found Styles, whose header was just over the bar. Duane Jackman and Ben Boyce both came on as Urchins stormed forward, and a long pass from Prestedge found Hunt, whose shot was well saved. A long throw by Coyne led to a corner on the right, which Hunt took, and this in turn led to a deflection out for a corner on the other side, which Hunt also took. Paul Shave headed wide from a long Coyne throw and in stoppage time Hunt put the ball out to Boyce who turned it back to Hunt, and Jonathan’s shot was dramatically cleared off the line.

A much improved performance from Hornchurch, whose domination was not able to be turned into goals.