HORNCHURCH 2 WITHAM 1 - report

[Dagger03]

Tuesday 09-December-2014

HORNCHURCH  2  WITHAM TOWN  1

 

HFC – Sam Mott – Billy Coyne – Alex Bentley – Elliot Styles © - Billy Roast – Frankie Curley – Joe Christou – Danny Johnson (Junior Luke 58) – Martin Tuohy (Thomas Gogo 84) – George Purcell  – Michael Malcolm (Tobi Joseph 90+1)

Subs – Elyon Marshall-Katung – Courtney Homans

 

WT – Martyn Guest © - Connor Mead – Tom Wraight – Joshua Banton – James Regis – Ryan Maxwell (Kurt Smith 77) – Ellis Brown – Rayn Blackman (John Watson 59) – Jamie Guy – Jack Paxman – Danny Emmanuel (Ryan Charles 84)

Subs – Shamido Pedulu – Harry Palmer

 

Scorers

Malcolm 25 (H)

Brown 32p (WT)

Purcell 74 (H)

 

Bookings –

Roast 49 (H)

Blackman 45+1 (WT)

Tuohy 71 (H)

Bentley 77 (H)

 

Officials - Aji Ajibola – previously on line against Tooting September-2011, fourth official at Kingstonian in last season’s play-off, and referee at Grays this season

 

Graham Horsler -  on line against Dagenham & Redbridge February-2007,  against West Ham August-2011, against Maidstone also August 2011, at Thurrock November-2011, at Grays August-2012, and at Kingstonian this season.

 

David Gainsford – on line against Carshalton October-2013, and at Billericay also October-2013.

 

 

Attendance 113

Weather – 10 degrees, drizzle, wind speed up to 30 mph.

Duration 47.12 + 48.41

 

HORNCHURCH  2  WITHAM TOWN  1

 

Hornchurch have now gone six matches unbeaten at home, although this was their first home league win of the season. Witham were hit by the late withdrawal of Luke Callander, who was injured during the warm-up, which meant that Jamie Guy moved into the starting line up, and Shamido Pedulu came into the squad.

 

A near-gale force wind (though just a gentle breeze compared to what we had at Peacehaven a few weeks ago), and intermittent drizzle and a very heavy pitch, made for difficult playing conditions.

 

Hornchurch, playing towards the windmill end of the ground, were in command for the opening spell, when Witham survived an early scare when a Joe Christou corner was scrambled away and a long throw by Billy Coyne into the goalmouth was also eventually cleared, with the aid of a possible hand ball. 

 

Billy Roast headed wide form a Christou corner, and whilst another Christou corner was played short towards the edge of the penalty area, where George Purcell fired wide.

 

Hornchurch took the lead when Christou’s free kick, out on the left side of the field, was headed home by Michael Malcolm, for his first goal in league matches.

 

It could have been two when Martin Tuohy made a good run, but his shot was saved by Martyn Guest, and play moved upfield, where Billy Coyne made a neat interception to concede a corner – or so we thought, until referee Aji Ajobola pointed to the penalty spot. Cue protests, to no avail. Ellis Brown stepped up to fire the penalty home via a post to level the score.

 

With the wind increasing in power, and the rain now sweeping down, play deteriorated in the extremely difficult conditions, and apart from a booking for Ryan Blackman in stoppage time, there was little of note.

 

The wind increased in intensity in the second half, and Witham benefitted from the conditions, with play often confined to the Hornchurch half of the field.

 

Billy Roast was booked for a mistimed tackle and Sam Mott saved the free kick comfortably.

 

At the other end Danny Johnson headed over from a Purcell centre, and with Witham forcing the pace, Junior Luke came on for Johnson.

 

Hornchurch began to come more into the game and Tuohy headed over from a Purcell cross. Frankie Curley, Purcell and Luke combined to play the ball through to Tuohy, who ran forward, only for his well placed shot to be equally well saved by Martyn Guest.

 

Michael Malcolm went close with a solo run and shot, which led to two successive corners, from the second of which Purcell’s shot rebounded to Curley whose first time attempt went over the bar.

 

Witham applied pressure on the home defence, although Sam Mott did not have a direct shot to save thanks to some good defending by Roast and Elliot Styles, with Billy Coyne contributing with a neat tackle to stop Danny Emmanuel.

 

Alex Bentley broke up a move on the right, to send the ball up to Tuohy, who had been booked a minute earlier. Tuohy made ground on the left and crossed to Purcell, whose shot was touched around the post for a corner.

 

A minute later Hornchurch regained the lead, when Curley slotted the ball through to George Purcell, who ran forward, and neatly stroked the ball home past the advancing Guest.

 

And it was Guest in action again two minutes later, saving well in a similar situation when Malcolm sent Purcell clear once again.

 

Junior Luke made a good run in from the wing and his shot was cleared by a packed defence, whilst at the other end Bentley was booked for a foul and the free kick drifted wide of the goal.

 

Thomas Gogo came on for Tuohy and Tobi Joseph replaced Malcolm. Hornchurch survived a dangerous wind assisted inswinging corner, whilst a shot from the half way line almost caught out Sam Mott, who had to leap high to gather the ball, and a long punt upfield by keeper Guest bounced into the arms of Mott at the other end.

 

A fine cross from Gogo almost found the net, but it was left to Tobi Joseph to send in a hard shot on the turn which Guest saved in spectacular fashion as Hornchurch surged forward in stoppage time.