HORNCHURCH 1 WEALDSTONE 0
Kris Lee and Dean Green back into the starting line up, and the very experienced Lance Key making his debut in goal. For Wealdstone Gavin James, (incorrectly listed as James Gavin), made his debut.

Wealdstone, kicking towards the restaurant end of the ground, made most of the early running. Ashe’s dangerous looking free kick was headed away by Fiston Manuella, and this led to a corner, and Montgomery sent over an outswinger, which was played back in by Martin, the ball deflecting out via Curley for another corner. Montgomery this time played it short to Ashe, whose centre was headed away by Manuella. Lance Key dealt comfortably with a long range shot from Montgomery, and when Alexander broke through he was stopped by a good tackle from Goodfellow, the ball going out for a corner. Montgomery took the kick and Curley cleared.

Urchins first real opportunity came when Elliot Styles, once again captain, played a long ball up the field for Kris Lee to chase, but Keeper Luke Woods came out to gather. Mark Janney made a neat interception and turned quickly to send Dean Green away on the right, where Massey did well to tackle and play the ball away. Billy Coyne made a long throw into the middle where the ball bobbed about until the whistle stopped play and a free kick was awarded to the visitors. Elliot Styles almost caught Woods out with a long range shot which dipped and just went over the bar, and a terribly mistimed back pass let in Kris Lee who slid at the ball. Woods dropped the ball and although Lee was first up the referee stopped play and gave the visitors a free kick, which did not go down at all well with the EastSide.

A Billy Coyne free kick went out to the left to Kris Lee, whose cross found Dean Green, and Dean’s shot from the edge of the area hit a defender and went out for a corner, which Janney took, and Woods held well. Chappell tried to make ground upfield and was dispossessed by an excellent Janney tackle, and Mark raced down the right and centred, keeper Woods palming the ball away, but not far enough and Wealdstone conceded a free kick about ten yards out from the edge of the area. Tomlinson lurked, but Lee Brown took the kick and Woods made an excellent save, tipping the ball over the bar for a corner, which Janney took and Kris Lee’s shot was turned out for another corner. This was only partly cleared and the ball came back to Janney, whose centre was handled by a defender, the linesman quickly raising his flag, and just as quickly lowering it again when the referee decided he had no intention of awarding what seemed to many to be a clear cut penalty. The ball was immediately hammered upfield and Gavin James, made a straight run at goal, and Lance Key came out to make an excellent save from James’ well placed shot,

Wealdstone finished the half strongly, Montgomery crossing to James whose shot went off for a corner, and Ashe sending over an inswinging ball which Lance Key punched away. Montgomery tried a long solo run on the left, and Key again saved well. almost on half time Montgomery crossed low into the middle where Alexander hit his shot wide of the goal when well placed.

The half time jackpot was won by Ian, better known as the Capital League’s chief ball boy, for his exploits behind the stand, where he has retrieved more balls than were ever lost in the first place. Urchins could have taken the lead in the first minute of the second half, when Dean Green’s shot was saved by the keeper, who got his legs in the way of the goalbound ball, and Urchins stepped up the pressure. Janney was fouled and Lee Brown took the kick from just outside the area, with the ball deflecting just past the post for a corner. Tomlinson put the ball into the goalmouth and it was played back again to Andy whose cross was punched out by Woods, the referee awarding a free kick as Dean Green moved in onto the loose ball.

Wealdstone looked to have cleared the next move but Tomlinson played the ball straight back, Kris Lee touched it on to DEAN GREEN, who sidestepped a defender and hammered the ball low into the net. Wealdstone survived a second penalty appeal when a defender appeared to handle Billy Coyne’s free kick, and Wealdstone came back strongly when James touched the ball sideways to O’Leary, who hammered the ball hard into the side netting. Simon Parker, on from Lee, was in immediate action on the right when he won a corner, but the ball was hit too long and went out of play on the other side of the pitch. Salapatas came on as substitute for Wealdstone and sent over a dangerous corner, which Key punched out, and from a second corner, Key repeated the action, the ball falling right in front of Alexander, whose hard shot was cleared off the line by Donny Barnard. A third Salapatas corner was headed away by Goodfellow, and the pressure was eased when Key caught the next cross and played a long ball down the middle, where Simon Parker turned inside of Martin and ran goalwards, with Woods making a fine save from the shot. A long range shot from Salapatas sailed over the bar, and Urchins were rarely threatened in the four minutes added on for stoppages.