EAST THURROCK 1 HORNCHURCH 0

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Saturday 09-August-2014 – Isthmian League

EAST THURROCK UTD 1  HORNCHURCH 0

 

ETU - David Hughes - Connor Witherspoon - Tom Stephen - Simon Peddie - Ben Wood - Ross Parmenter - David Bryant (Sam Lechmere 73) - Mitchell Gilbey - Emmanuel Osei - Lewis Smith - Reece Harris (Jaylon Campbell 77)

Substitutes – Tom Anderson – Ryan Boswell

 

HFC – Sam Mott – Junior Luke – Alex Bentley – Elliot Styles © - Omar Beckles – Phil Starkey – Chris Bourne (Elyon Marshall-Katung  58) – Tom Davis – Martin Tuohy – Joey May (Moses Ashikodi 57) – Junior Dadson

Subs – Jamie Hursit – Frank Griffin – Courtney Homans

 

 

Officials – Lee Forrester with Val Anekwe and Tony King

Scorer – Lewis Smith 37

Bookings – Smith 52 (E) – Beckles 64 (H) – Luke 90 (H)

Attendance 202

Duration 46.04 + 48.48

Weather – 22 degrees, sunny

 

EAST THURROCK UTD 1  HORNCHURCH 0

 

The opening match of the season was the tenth away match in a row for Hornchurch, with six more away games to follow before there is any chance of a return to the Bridge.

 

Hornchurch were without Frankie Curley, suspended for two matches, George Purcell, still recovering from injury, and Tobi Joseph, out with a long-term injury.

 

East Thurrock were without their captain, Steve Sheehan, who was reported to have joined Billericay.

 

Both teams started slowly and play was confined to midfield until the tenth minute when Martin Tuohy won a corner. Joey May sent the ball into the goalmouth where David Hughes made a good catch under pressure from Omar Beckles.

 

Thurrock had slightly more of the territorial play, and had two corners in quick succession, with Elliot Styles heading the second to safety.

 

Lewis Smith announced his presence with two fouls within the space of ten seconds, which earned him a ticking off from the referee, and the free kick, taken by Tom Davis, came to nothing.

 

Junior Dadson interlinked well with Davis shortly afterwards, and his low cross went begging across the face of the goal.

 

East Thurrock took the lead with what was the only goal of the match in the 27^th minute, when a free kick, taken by Lewis Smith, was only part cleared back to Lewis Smith, who fired in a hard shot from the edge of the area.

 

A second goal almost followed when Manny Osei attempted a long range shot on the run, and the ball rebounded off the underside of the bar.

 

Lewis Smith then made a solo run but directed his shot over the bar.

 

Junior Dadson opened up the home defence with a long pass out to Chris Bourne, whose shot rose over the bar.

 

Close to half time Junior Dadson gained possession in midfield and fired in a first time shot which hit the underside of the bar, with Hughes possibly getting a touch, and it was Hughes who reacted quickly to touch the follow up by Chris Bourne over the bar.

 

East Thurrock started the second half strongly, and Reece Harris sent in a good shot which Sam Mott turned away for a corner, which was only partly cleared and the ball was played back as far as Michael Gilbey whose shot was tipped over the bar by Moot for another corner.

 

Lewis Smith also went close, before Hornchurch introduced Moses Ashikodi, signed two days earlier, and Elyon Marshall-Katung, and this stemmed what was becoming a one-way flow towards the Hornchurch goal.

 

A booking followed for Lewis Smith, and Tom Davis fired wide with a shot on the turn. A Davis free kick was floated into the goalmouth where Hughes touched the ball over the bar under pressure from Beckles, who was booked for what the referee considered to be an unfair challenge.

 

Marshall-Katung was brought down and from the free kick, taken by Tom Davis, Elliot Styles headed over.

 

Junior Luke sent over a succession of long throws, most of which went into the waiting hands of David Hughes, but the next throw caused confusion in the home defence and the ball was deflected for a corner, which Davis floated over, and the resulting header from Elliot Styles was cleared off the line.

 

Another long throw from Luke found Beckles, whose header went over the bar. Hornchurch threw players forward and were awarded a free kick ten yards outside the area, which Davis took, but although his shot cleared the wall of defenders, it also cleared the crossbar.

 

In the final minute Junior Luke conceded a penalty and was booked. Tom Stephen stepped up to take the kick and put the ball wide of the post.

 

East Thurrock comfortably held out for the three minutes of stoppage time which followed.