HORNCHURCH 4 MERSTHAM 2 - report

[Dagger03]

Saturday 15-November-2014 – F.A. Trophy

HORNCHURCH  4  MERSTHAM  2

 

HFC – Sam Mott – Billy Coyne – Alex Bentley – Elliot Styles © - Danny Johnson – Frankie Curley – Joe Christou – Joey May – Martin Tuohy – George Purcell (Thomas Gogo 88) – Michael Malcolm (Junior Luke 68)

Subs – Elyon Marshall-Katung – Courtney Homans – Chris Bourne

 

MFC – Brennon Daly – Simon Cooper – Antone Douglas – Kalvin Morath-Gibbs – Osa Obamwoni (Stefan Cox 78) – Tutu Henriques (Dean Gunner 83) – Taurean Roberts – Peter Adeniyi – Tommy Hutchins – Fabio Saraiva – Aaron Rhule (Omar Folkes 78)

Subs – Marc Okoye – Ian Chatfield

 

 

Match officials -

Stuart Butler - five previous appearances

7/10/06 v Fleet in the Trophy

19/1/08 v Ramsgate in the League

10/3/09 at Carshalton

19/2/13 at Tonbridge in the Conf South

23/8/14 at Leatherhead

 

James Hurst - one, 7/10/14 at ETU on the line in the League Cup

 

Elad Amin – one, 1/4/13 on the line against Bromley

 

Scorers –

Purcell 6p (H)

Tuohy 8 (H)

Rhule 10 (M)

Rhule 34 (M)

Purcell 45+2 (H)

Tuohy 90+4 (H)

 

Bookings – Christou 12 (H) – Rhule 73 (M) – Henriques 79 (M) – Gunner 90+4 (M)

Weather – 12 degrees, overcast

Duration 47.38 + 50.49

Attendance 154

 

 

HORNCHURCH  4  MERSTHAM  2

 

On a very heavy pitch, Hornchurch had to reshuffle their defence following the departure of Omar Beckles to St Albans, and Hornchurch played a 3-4-3 formation.

 

Hornchurch kicked off towards the clubhouse end of the ground. It quickly became apparent that both teams intended to play attacking football, and it was Hornchurch who opened the scoring when Alex Bentley moved in from the left and Martin Tuohy fired in a first time shot which was turned out for a corner. Joey May played the corner towards George Purcell, who was tripped just inside the area, and it was George Purcell who stepped up to take the resulting penalty and he placed the ball neatly past Brennon Daly.

 

Two minutes later, Michael Malcolm fed the ball out to Billy Coyne and his cross was converted by Martin Tuohy to make it two nil, but Merstham reduced the arrears two minutes later when Sam Mott could not hold a shot from Aaron Rhule who followed up to score.

 

Joe Christou was booked for a mistimed tackle, and Merstham began to grow in confidence, and they went close when a shot from Peter Adeniyi beat Mott but went narrowly past the post.

 

Visiting keeper Daly had to race out of his goal to head away when Tuohy had ran on to a through ball down the middle, whilst a Billy Coyne free kick cannoned back off the defensive wall. Joey May then swung over a corner which Daly punched clear, before Merstham drew level. Simon Cooper played a good pass along the right to Taurean Roberts, whose crossed was turned out by Danny Johnson for a corner. This was only partially cleared and the ball was played back into the goalmouth where Aaron Rhule glided it into the net.

 

Merstham conceded a succession of free kicks, and from one of these Purcell hit a free kick against the wall, but although Hornchurch had the better of the play they had to wait until the final minute of first half stoppage time to regain the lead, and it was thanks to an excellent chip by George Purcell from the edge of the area which went over Daly and dipped under the bar.

 

Early in the second half a long throw by Billy Coyne caused confusion before the ball was eventually headed out, whilst Frankie Curley had a shot blocked following good work by Michael Malcolm, and Alex Bentley went close with his follow up shot.

 

Merstham came forward, winning three corners, though the closest they came to scoring was when a last second tackle by Billy Coyne denied Rhule, and a minute later Joe Christou made a similar tackle to prevent a shot by Tommy Hutchings who had homed in on goal.

 

Rhule was then booked for a foul on Billy Coyne, who took the free kick himself but his shot went wide of the post.

 

More pressure followed from Merstham, and a shot was skied over the bar from just ten yards out, whilst Bentley tackled to stop Tommy Hutchings.

 

Junior Luke replaced Malcolm and caused some confusion with rapid sorties along the right wing. Thomas Gogo replaced Purcell and immediately sent an excellent pass through to Tuohy, whose shot was well saved by Daly.

 

The Merstham threat diminished in the last ten minutes and Hornchurch again dictated the play. In the final minute of stoppage time Joe Christou made ground from a Joey May pass and his shot came back off the inside of the post. The ball was returned into the goalmouth and Martin Tuohy made things safe with a well placed shot.

 

[Dagger03]

Frankie Curley made his 270th appearance today - this brings him level with Andy Tomlinson.

 

Peter Goddard leads on 522

Elliot Styles in next on 379

Ken Lewell is third on 280.