HORNCHURCH 1 METROPOLITAN POLICE 0 - report

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Saturday 26-April-2014

HORNCHURCH  1 METROPOLITAN POLICE  0

 

HFC – Inigo Echepare – Dave Rainford - Phil Starkey – Elliot Styles © (Chris Bourne at half time) - Rickie Hayles – Frank Curley – Tambeson Eyong– Joey May (Michael Spencer 83) – Stefan Payne – George Purcell  – Danny Phillips (Billy Coyne 74)

Subs – Leigh Bremner - Martin Tuohy

 

MP – Dave Smalley – Will Bor (Ty Smith 59) – Tom Bird – Ricardo Joseph © - Will Salmon – Ryan James – Matt Pattison (Charlie Collins 59) – Nigel Neita (Bradley Hudson-Lodoi 59) – Elliot Taylor – Howard Newton

Subs - Steve Sutherland – Jordan Hibbert

 

Scorer – Bourne 48

Bookings – Styles 35 (H) – Eyong 35 (H) – Taylor 53 (MP)

Attendance 374

Officials – Sam Purkiss with Dean Skipper and Ray Wells

Duration  47.04 + 48.03

Weather – sunny, 18 degrees, wind speed 10 mph

 

HORNCHURCH  1 METROPOLITAN POLICE  0

 

Hornchurch needed to win and to hope that either Dulwich or Lowestoft dropped points if they were to secure a place in the play-offs, and although they eventually achieved their aim, it was a somewhat nervous ninety minutes.

 

The Metropolitan Police did not manage a shot on target, the nearest they came being when a free kick sailed wide of the goal and a long range shot in the second half headed towards the windmill.

 

Hornchurch had a chance in the second minute but George Purcell was pulled up for offside, whilst a Danny Phillips shot went straight at Dave Smalley. Smalley had to deal with a long throw from Rickie Hayles, and Will Salmon headed a similar throw away shortly afterwards.

 

The best chance of the half followed a Hayles free kick which allowed Tambeson Eyong to set off on a lengthy cross-field run, before his shot was deflected for a corner. Joey May sent the ball low and short to Stefan Payne, whose shot was touched against the bar by Smalley. Payne followed up but his shot was wide.

 

The best the visitors could manage was a free kick by Matt Pattison after Nigel Neita had rounded Phil Starkey, only to be brought down by Elliot Styles, who was booked, but the free kick went a long way wide of the post.

 

Phillips set up Payne, who turned sharply but could not get his shot on target, and Payne had two further attempts blocked.

 

Frankie Curley then played the ball to Payne, who touched on to Purcell, but Smalley was quickly off his line to save.

 

Chris Bourne replaced Elliot Styles at the interval, and Hornchurch had a scoring chance when Purcell went clear only to be crowded out by Ricardo Joseph.

 

It was CHRIS BOURNE who scored the only goal of the match just three minutes later when he glided Purcell’s centre from the right over Smalley and into the net.

 

Metropolitan Police made a triple substitution on 59 minutes, and it was Charlie Collins who made the most impression up front, twice forcing Dave Rainford to move sharply across to intercept when he threatened to break through on the right.

 

The Police increased the pressure on the home goal with two corners, though the best they could manage was a shot by Ryan James that went a long way wide.

 

Smalley saved from Purcell, who had been sent clear by Bourne, and Billy Coyne replaced Phillips.

 

Elliot Taylor was booked and from Bourne’s free kick Rickie Hayles headed wide at the far post.

 

Michael Spencer came on for Joey May, and play was largely confined to midfield, the only chance falling to Purcell who looked likely to score until Smalley raced off his line to smother the ball.

 

It was Dulwich Hamlet who dropped the points, allowing Hornchurch to take the last Play-Off place. Urchins now travel to Kingstonian, and the winners of that match are away to either Bognor Regis or Lowestoft.

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League appearances this season -

 

Inigo ever present on 46

Frankie also ever present on 46 (43 + 3 subs)

George Purcell - 44 (42 + 2)

Rickie 43

Elliot 43