HORNCHURCH 1 HENDON 2 - REPORT

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Saturday 05-April-2104

HORNCHURCH  1  HENDON  2

 

HFC - Inigo Echepare – Billy Coyne (Chris Bourne 77) – Phil Starkey– Elliot Styles © - Rickie Hayles - Frankie Curley – Tambeson Eyong  (Martin Tuohy 62) – Joey May - Stefan Payne  – George Purcell   – Michael Spencer

Subs - James Folkes – Luke Read – Adriano Varnier

 

Hendon – Joe McDonnell – Chris Seeby – Jack Bennett – Dave Diedhiou – Sam Flegg – Kevin Maclaran © - Michael Bryan – Lee O’Leary – Leon Smith (Michael Murray 90+6) – Adam Wallace (Anthony Thomas 84) – Tony Taggart (Jose Figura 77)

Subs – James Fisher – Max McCann

 

Scorers – Purcell 26p (H) – Taggatt 47 (Hen) – Smith 59p (Hen)

Bookings – Maclaren 33 (Hen) – Eyong 44 (H) – Styles 58 (H) – Payne 78 (H) – Hayles 86 (H)

Attendance 300

Officials – Carl Pearse with Kevin Nicholson and Steve Parmenter

Duration 46.20 + 50.40

Weather – overcast, 14 degrees, wind speed 15 mph

 

 

HORNCHURCH  1  HENDON  2

 

Hornchurch lost ground in the play-off race with another poor home performance, although they were denied two strong penalty appeals in the space of five minutes in the second half.

 

Hendon had the better of the play in the first fifteen minutes, although neither side could create a scoring chance.

 

Hendon had the first clear-cut attempt after Inigo Echepare had failed to hold a cross from the right and the ball was played back to Michael Bryan, on the edge of the area, but his shot was hurried and Inigo made a comfortable save.

 

Inigo was fortunate when he again failed to hold the ball, which was played back by Adam Wallace to Leon Smith, but Inigo recovered well to save.

 

Hornchurch went in front when Michael Spencer played the ball through to GEORGE PURCELL, who was brought down by Dave Diedhiou. After the protests had died down, and without any yellow cards, Purcell calmly slotted the penalty home. Then followed an unseemly display of petulance by the visiting side, who rushed to the touchline towards their manager, the referee eventually restoring control, again without any waved yellows.

 

McDonnell was in action shortly afterwards, turning a Spencer cross away for a corner, but he could do little when Joey May again hammered in a shot from thirty yards out, the ball skimming the post.

 

Tambeson Eyong moved out on to the left wing, and then made a rapid solo run past two defenders, his shot being saved well by McDonnell.

 

Hendon twice threatened towards half time, firstly when Sam Flegg took a dangerous free kick which was headed out by Elliot Styles, and again when Jack Bennett moved in from the left, but was well policed by Tambeson Eyong.

 

Hendon drew level two minutes into the second half when TONY TAGGART was allowed far too much room on the left and he neatly fired home past Inigo.

 

Hendon then went close when Leon Smith lobbed the ball over Inigo, but also over the bar, and a free kick, awarded against Michael Spencer, was floated wide by Taggart.

 

Hendon went ahead when Styles conceded a penalty, which was converted by LEON SMITH.

 

Martin Tuohy replaced Eyong, and Hornchurch came back strongly, though they found Kevin Maclaren in fine form in the visiting defence, although he had earlier been booked for a foul on Joey May.

 

Hornchurch were denied two penalties within the space of five minutes, firstly when Michael Spencer was sent crashing down inside the area, and then when Stefan Payne met the same fate as he weaved through.

 

There followed a series of decisions, most of which went against Hornchurch, and which also broke up the flow of play.

 

Chris Bourne replaced Billy Coyne, who had earlier needed some lengthy attention, but Hornchurch could not penetrate the packed Hendon defence, although a shot by Stefan Payne skimmed the bar after he ran in from the left.

 

With most of the other play off contenders picking up points, Hornchurch must wonder why they cannot reproduce their away form at home matches.

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Correction - Tambeson was not booked.