Concord Rangers v AFC Hornchurch - match report

[Ian_W]

Tuesday 11th January 2011, Thames Road, Kick-Off 7:45pm, Essex Senior Cup supported by BBC Essex Fourth Round.

 

AFC Hornchurch came from two goals behind to clinch an impressive 3-2 victory at Concord Rangers, booking a place in the quarter-finals of the Essex Senior Cup as the beaten finalists continue their quest to go one better than last season.

 

Concord were two ahead within 15 minutes thanks to Tony Stokes and Harry Elmes goals but Rickie Hayles reduced the deficit before the interval, followed by a Jonathan Hunt penalty and a Dave Collis strike which stole the tie for Hornchurch.

 

The hosts took the lead on 7 minutes, former West Ham United youngster Stokes’ whipped right-flank free-kick catching ‘keeper Darren Behcet off his line and finding the far top corner. That early advantage was doubled just eight minutes later, Elmes running strongly into the six-yard box before smashing a shot in off the near post to put his side into the ascendency.

 

Hornchurch soon began to settle, though, and had already seen Collis crash a 20-yard volley inches over the top before Captain Hayles brought the visitors back into the tie on 37 minutes, glancing Hunt’s free-kick past ‘keeper Dale Brightley from eight yards. In a hugely competitive second period, it was then Hornchurch who began to boss much of the attacking possession.

 

Joe Benjamin pulled a 20-yard effort just wide of the post before the visitors were given the opportunity to level from the spot after Lee White tripped Collis in the box. Experienced former Birmingham City and Southend United man Hunt made no mistake from twelve yards to level the scores with 20 minutes remaining.

 

The crucial goal arrived on 82 minutes, a long ball forward beating the Concord defence and allowing Collis time to compose himself before firing low beyond Brightley. The tie could have been put beyond any doubt a minute from time when Lewis Smith unselfishly laid the ball across goal for Benjamin, only for Brightley to bravely block at the feet of the AFC striker.

 

Concord Rangers: Dale Brightley, Ashley Miller, Danny Glozier, Danny Dafter (Nicky Cowley, 83), Steve King, Lee White, James Elmes, Russell Malton, Gary Ogilvie (Marc Sontag, 58), Harry Elmes, Tony Stokes. Unused Substitutes: Nick Skelton, Danny Scopes, Lamar Johnson.

 

AFC Hornchurch: Darren Behcet, David McSweeney, Billy Coyne, Rickie Hayles, Ronnie Fletcher, Dave Collis, Jonathan Hunt, Tambeson Eyong (Elliot Styles, 51), Joe Benjamin (Andy Tomlinson, 90), Lewis Smith, Michael Spencer. Unused Substitutes: Martin Tuohy, Michael Ramkin.

 

Bookings: Concord: Glozier (27, unsporting behaviour), James Elmes (62, foul), Dafter (73, foul). Hornchurch: Eyong (27, unsporting behaviour), Fletcher (39, foul).

 

Referee: Adrian Oldershaw (Brentwood).

 

Assistant Referees: Nigel Bond (Chelmsford) and Nick Pavitt (Little Wakering).

 

Attendance: 102.

[Hornchurch "O"]

No mention of the cold burgers.