AFC Hornchurch vs MFC - LIVE commentary

[Dutch_Mike]

The post-mortem:

 

To sum it up? Dreadful. Beaten all across the park in every position today. Played two small frontmen, yet repeatedly hoofed the ball to them aimlessly, and it simply came straight back from a decent, if not spectacular, Hornchurch team. It is criminal to not even register one meaningful shot on target

 

For me, not one player can leave today's game with his head held high. Scott had a shocker in goal. I do not doubt his shot-stopping ability, but there is more to being a goalkeeper than simply that; his kicking and positioning really were awful. Until the first goal, we looked relatively comfortable in defence but, as soon as the first went in, we fell to pieces at the back. No leadership, no organisation and, in truth, we were lucky to escape with only a 2-goal defeat; it could so easily have been 5 or 6.

Midfield offered nothing; Young looked like a fish out of water in midfield. What has Morris ever done wrong? And the forward line had little, if any, service, so were unable to make an impact.

 

But, most worryingly, the manager: Trotty has lost the plot! Playing Young in midfield was suicide - it led to Hornchurch bossing the midfield and, subsequently, bossing the game. Anyone could see Haworth was fit and raring to go and, against such a big, solid defence, we needed him on the pitch from the very beginning. Yet again Trotty's pride got in the way re: the goalkeeper situation. As aforementioned, Scotty had a howler. But what did the substitution achieve? With twenty minutes left, he used his final substitute to 'prove a point' to his 'keeper. Why not make a tactical (you might want to look that word up, Trott) substitute to try and claw the game back? Really cannot see the point in that final substitute.

 

Anyway, rant over. Awful performance, but I still feel there are many a twist and turn left in this run-in...

[Dagger03]

Very surprised at the criticism levelled at the keeper - he made several good saves, and though he was lobbed for the two goals, this is Simon Parker's trademark way of scoring.

 

Here is the report I posted on the HFC forum - please note - it is completely unbiased.

 

Saturday 15th March 2008

HORNCHURCH 2 MARGATE 0

HFC- Dale Brightly – Donny Barnard – Jim McFarlane – John Purdie © - Richard Goddard – Elliot Styles – Frankie Curley – Mark Janney - Kris Lee – Simon Parker – Dean Green

Subs – Jamie Richards for Janney 75 - Harry Elmes for Kris Lee at half time - Michael Brothers– Andy Tomlinson for Parker 82 - Danny Glozierl

 

MFC – Scott Chalmers-Stevens - Ryan Peters – Ricardo Josephs – Ryan Martin - Louis Smith – Robin Trott – Steve McKimm © - Dan Young – James Pinnock – Charlie Side – Jimmy Jackson

Subs – Keiron Morris – Mark Goodfellow – Roberto Curbishley for Peters 64 – Rob Haworth for Trott at half time – Alex Krunic for Chalmers-Stevens 76

 

Scorers – Simon Parker 31, Simon Parker 53

Attendance 424

Officials – D Margetts with G Tilley and D Raval

Duration – 46.04 + 47.13

Bookings – Haworth 49 (M) - Barnard 60 (H) – Josephs 70 (M)

Weather – overcast 13 degrees, wind speed 10 mph, heavy rain in second half

 

HORNCHURCH 2 MARGATE 0

Such was the interest in this match that there was full and exclusive live commentary broadcast jointly with GATE RADIO in collaboration with AFC Hornchurch, with thousands listening in. Margate brought a coach load of supporters to the Bridge, but they had a bit of a scare when the coach driver decided he could not go down the Bridge Avenue as the coach was too heavy. This caused a traffic jam which stretched all the way back to Romford, but eventually they got inside.

 

Today’s referee was Mr Dave Margetts who took the league cup match at the Bridge against Maidstone. On a dull and overcast day, Urchins put on one of their best displays of the season to convincingly beat promotion chasing Margate, despite a first minute scare when Dale Brightly had to tip Jimmy Jackson’s swirling cross over the bar for a corner. Brightly cleared the corner, pumping the ball up field, and it was the visitors keeper, Scott Chalmers-Stevens, who saw the most of the action, being forced to race out of goal twice in quick succession to kick away, first from Dean Green, who ran on to Styles’ pass, and then from Kris Lee, who also homed in onto a Styles pass. ‘Gate came back well, and were awarded a free kick a few yards outside the area. Ryan Martin stepped up to fire the ball low past the wall, and it rolled harmlessly out of play just wide of the post. This proved to be Margate’s only real sortie upfield in a first half dominated by the Urchins, who were kicking towards the windmill end of the ground.

 

Simon Parker was in almost unstoppable form, and when he ran on to Frankie Curley’s neat pass, his goal bound shot was well saved by Chalmers-Stevens with his feet, the ball rebounding back to John Purdie who promptly sent Parker away once again, with Josephs doing well to get in a tackle to prevent a shot.

 

A Styles throw found Parker, who was thwarted by Peters, at the expense of a corner, which Mark Janney took, playing the ball short to Parker and then sending the return pass behind the goal as Trott came in rapidly. A long ball from Dale Brightly saw Elliot Styles in a good position, but the ball bobbled and Elliot’s cross went behind. A Purdie free kick, after Parker had been chopped down, the referee taking no action, saw Jim McFarlane go close with his header, but intense pressure brought a reward when another Brightly inspired long ball came out to SIMON PARKER, out on the left side and well over 40 yards from goal, Simon looked up, saw keeper Chalmers-Peters out of goal, and calmly chipped the keeper, the ball moving almost in slow motion on its trajectory towards the net, to send 400 Urchins delirious, though the same could not be said for the many away supporters who had made the trip.

 

Urchins were rampant, and Janney’s free kick saw Donny Barnard speed in from the right, his low cross finding Curley, who flicked on to Parker, whose header went inches over the bar. Smith conceded a free kick and was fortunate to escape a booking from an incredibly lenient referee, the ball behind just ten yards outside of the area and right in the middle. Donny Barnard stepped up to hammer in a shot which Chalmers-Stevens did well to save at the foot of the post. A Styles throw caused havoc in the away defence, and the ball was hacked out for a corner, which Janney took and found Parker, who was tackled by Peters. Just on half time another free kick by Janney looked dangerous until Trott nipped in to tackle as Barnard moved forward, and although Smith managed to clear, the ball came back to Curley, who touched sideways to Barnard, thence on to Kris Lee, whose shot skimmed the bar.

 

Half time and many Margate supporters did venture into the mecca of non league football, and the remaining stock of Urchins badges were snapped up, along with all the Harrods (Roneo Corner Branch) steak pies. Never had Margate supporters sampled such hospitality and bonhomie (whatever that means). Max tried in vain to hand over the £100 jackpot, but the winner did not step forward.

 

Kris Lee, victim of an atrocious tackle in the first half, failed to reappear, Harry Elmes coming on, with Urchins retaining their 3-4-3 formation, whilst the visitors introduced Rob Haworth who played at centre forward, but whose first touch of the ball was in fact a non touch, as he was booked for what could be termed a misunderstanding between himself and the referee, leading to him kicking the ball away needlessly after conceding a free kick which he felt should not have been awarded. The free kick was right in front of the knowledgeable EastSide, every single one of whom agreed with the referee. Barnard took the free kick, and Dean Green dribbled past three players before losing the ball to a well timed tackle by Charlie Side. Despite the non stop efforts of Side and Pinnock, they could not prevent the Urchins forging forward, and goal number two followed when Dale Brightly hit a long ball down the middle, Harry Elmes headed on, to SIMON PARKER, thirty yards out of goal. Simon looked up, saw keeper Chalmers-Stevens off his line, and calmly chipped home for what is now Simon’s trademark goal. Max announced the goal as only Max can, and the entire EastSide ululated as one.

 

Back came the Urchins, Janney crossing to Curley, on to Elmes, on to Green, another weaving run and a cross, with Simon Parker cracking his shot inches wide. A long Brightly kick found Elmes, and Smith tackled, conceding a free kick in so doing. Janney took the kick, and Simon Parker tried to chip the keeper with a header, the ball rebounding off the bar, to Curley, whose shot was blocked, and back to Green, whose shot crashed inches over the bar, with the away defence now hanging on desperately. Green again, past three defenders, and Dean turned the ball back into the middle to Parker, who touched back to Curley, who again hammered the ball inches over the bar. In what was now a rare breakaway, Young played a long ball to Haworth who tried a solo run through the middle, Brightly saving comfortably. Styles from Goddard, and on to Parker, then out to Janney on the right. Mark raced clear but hit his shot over the bar as Chalmers-Stevens came out to narrow the angle. As the rain began to teem down, a bad tackle by Josephs led to a an incident when an away player clearly felled a home player with what appeared to be an unprovoked punch. Referee and both linesmen raced towards the incident, but the culprit, whose name and number was chanted loudly by the entire EastSide, remained unpunished, as none of the officials had seen it, and the yellow card was instead waved at Joseph. Margate, who simply had to come forward, almost created an opening with a centre from the left, which Goddard turned out for a corner, the header from Haworth then going well wide of the goal. And what happened next left he entire ground speechless. With one substitution remaining, two goals down, and time running out, why did Margate choose to substitute their goalkeeper?

 

No idea, but it certainly inspired the Urchins. Green made a long pass through to Parker, who was just beaten to the ball by Krunic, and Tomlinson, who came on for Parker shortly afterwards, then sent a long pass out to Richards on the right, whose centre was turned behind by Josephs. Tomlinson’s corner saw McFarlane just fail to reach the ball, which was cleared upfield. With seconds remaining, Tomlinson floated a free kick over, and McFarlane’s shot skimmed the post. Three more points, rain pouring down, and everybody happy.

 

 

And for Margate, many of their supporters made a full day of it and went to the seaside, to the joys and delights on Southend.

 

 

 

 

[geoff pay]

I disagree there we were out of the game give the boy a chance.

[Ian_Sanderson]

EVERYONE HAS A BAD DAY. THIS WAS HIS. DO YOU REALLY WANT A 16 YEAR OLD IN GOAL AT SOUTHWOOD???

 

By quite good Geoff as Ramsgate will have an 18 year old making only his 4th appearence.

 

 

[Porka]

First goal from 40 yards? I've heard of the word exaggeration but thats taking it a step further! And the second, from well outside the area, again stretches the truth! Both goals were a little wide, but no further than 20 yards out. Good finishes mind, even if our keeper looked like he was there for the sightseeing. Trademark or not, he could have stopped them both!

 

My grapes are fine, but the pitch was absolutely awful. The grass probably needed cutting two weeks ago!

[Dutch_Mike]

Two down with twenty minutes? Personally, I think a decent manager would have realised that perhaps a little spark could have got us back into the game. Twenty minutes is a long time in football. A quick goal, and it would have been a nervy finish.

[P.W.]

Question: Why wasn't Bowles on the bench? Some said it was because he played yesterday, but if that's the case why did he start for the Reserves? If Lamprell was unavailable what was wrong with Damian Rowlands who was on the bench for most of last season? Have seen him a couple of times for Reserves but has he just fallen out of favour or does he too have a job that demands he sometomes works weekends?

[Uncle Urchin]

Originally Posted By: Porka

First goal from 40 yards? I've heard of the word exaggeration but thats taking it a step further! And the second, from well outside the area, again stretches the truth! Both goals were a little wide, but no further than 20 yards out. Good finishes mind, even if our keeper looked like he was there for the sightseeing. Trademark or not, he could have stopped them both!

My grapes are fine, but the pitch was absolutely awful. The grass probably needed cutting two weeks ago!

steady porka...you sound a little like a chelmo fan.....

our pitch is in good condition all things considered and you couldn't possibly comment not having been on it...it was actually cut this morning and our players seemed to like it anyway....

read daggers prologue...

[Porka]

Unc, fair play to your lads. They showed great will to win second half especially.

 

Pitch was crap though. Have a word in Alan's ear. He might be able to get some sheep on there to graze

[Paul H]

I've said it once and i'll say it again. SCS lacks confidence and by the sounds of it he did today. In the last 10 years we have never heard a vocal keeper at Margate. The last was probably Joe Radford. SCS is a good shot stopper but I heard the way Trotty spoke to him at Folkestone earlier this season and if that has carried on, i'm not supprised he's lost it. I'd be supprised if SCS is with us next season. Keepers should be strong and vocal and have an understanding with their defenders in front of them. I've played for sides with players that encouraged me and played at my best, but i've also played for some sides with slagging going on and thats when i've played at my worst. Thats at Sunday Football level. Its exactly the same from my level of football through to the Premiership.

The boy lacks confidence and I think i've hit it on the head!

[Uncle Urchin]

Originally Posted By: Porka

Unc, fair play to your lads. They showed great will to win second half especially.

Pitch was crap though. Have a word in Alan's ear. He might be able to get some sheep on there to graze

you do surprise me about the pitch as its actually in good fettle all seasons weather considered... I walked it early today and thought how well its done to come back from novembers wetness...

we wanted that a little more today methinks and the 3 up front tactically shook your defence...trotty really should have sussed that after getting the team sheet but hey ho...today was ours....

tomorrow there will be many more twists and turns for sure...

[blueblood]

Did the 16 year old let you down?.

[Uncle Urchin]

Originally Posted By: blueblood

Did the 16 year old let you down?.

what...?

[GEEBEE]

actualy alex is 15 not 16 he plays for the under 16s under his dad nic krunic,he is a very good keeper so age has nothing to do with it(couldnt be any worse than scs today)and no scs didnt walk off of the pitch with the hump we spoke to him after the game and he was fine.i thought it was very brave of trotty to field a young keeper,and thanks to the players who made him feel welcome,trotty ended up in a&e with suspected broken ribs after the game,we missed js badly today(get well soon)just for the record was alex the youngest keeper ever to play in the first team?

[Uncle Urchin]

Originally Posted By: GEEBEE

actualy alex is 15 not 16 he plays for the under 16s under his dad nic krunic,he is a very good keeper so age has nothing to do with it(couldnt be any worse than scs today)and no scs didnt walk off of the pitch with the hump we spoke to him after the game and he was fine.i thought it was very brave of trotty to field a young keeper,and thanks to the players who made him feel welcome,trotty ended up in a&e with suspected broken ribs after the game,we missed js badly today(get well soon)just for the record was alex the youngest keeper ever to play in the first team?

what...?

[GEEBEE]

i must say hornchurch have a very impressive bar its more like a wine bar, very nice.and the fans are a good bunch to.

[AncientBlue]

An Urchin's supporter behind us remarked that 'he thought Margate were better than this' - sadly had to reply 'so did I'.

[Pagey]

Thought that Krunic had a great kick and his handling of the ball was very good

 

SCS had a bad day at the office, and again he pummelled one of our own players

 

Enjoyed the banter with the Urchins, although I would had enjoyed it even more if we had won

 

Very bad performance from the gate. Man of the match will be hard to choose

 

[JeremyJacobs]

Can't disagree with GP.

 

Roll on next season.

 

Interesting comments in the Gazette by Keith Piper.

[BlueGate Alan]

Team very poor for some reason, thank goodness my other team won the egg shape ball game

 

Many thanks to the warm hospitality extended from the many Urchins fans I met. Good luck lads for the rest of the season