HORNCHURCH 0 CONCORD RANGERS 2 - report

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Tuesday 24-February-2015 – Essex Senior Cup Semi Final

 

HORNCHURCH  0  CONCORD RANGERS  2

 

HFC – Sam Mott – Courtney Homans – Billy Coyne (Joe Scott 85) – Elliot Styles © - Danny Johnson – Tobi Joseph – Kieran Bishop (Thomas Gogo 75) – Joey May – Martin Tuohy – George Purcell – Junior Luke (Nnamdi Nwachuku 62)

Subs – Sam Bishop – Callum Chafer

 

CR – Josh Vickers – Jeremy Walker – Jack Lampe – Alex Woodward – Steve King © - Matt Fry – Joe Gardner – James White – Lewis Taaffe (Gary Ogilvie 80) – Sam Collins – Steve Cawley (Tony Stokes 64)

Subs – Callum Buckley – Jay Dowie – Taylor Miles

 

Officials – previous matches involving Hornchurch

Rick Bloy – referee 26/11/13 v Maldon & Tiptree - on line 27/2/13 v Hayes & Yeading – on line 26/10/13 v Hereford– on line 4/2/14 v Braintree

 

Stuart Franklin - he has previously officiated at six other Hornchurch matches and has been an assistant at eight other games.

 

Eddie Smith – on line 25/1/14 at East Thurrock

 

Scorers – Fry 58 – Ogilvie 89

Attendance 134

Bookings – Stokes 73 (CR) – White 88 (CR)

Duration 45.15 + 47.48

Weather – 6 degrees, clear

 

HORNCHURCH  0  CONCORD RANGERS  2

 

The lack of match practice – this was the first competitive game for over two weeks – took its toll when Hornchurch faded during the second half, as Concord took full advantage by scoring through two defensive errors to reach the final of the Essex Senior Cup.

 

Hornchurch were without Frankie Curley (suspended), Chris Bourne and Billy Roast, and Danny Johnson moved into the centre half position, whilst Courtney Homans came in at full back. Sam Burton, Joe Scott (from the Under 21 reserve side) and Callum Chafer all came into the squad.

 

Hornchurch started confidently, and could have taken an early lead when George Purcell’s free kick beat the defensive wall, but Josh Vickers made an excellent save to keep the ball out of the net.

 

It was Purcell again on 13 minutes who created a chance for himself, when he turned sharply and fired in a hard shot which went just wide of the post.

 

Two minutes later it was Sam Mott to the rescue when he reacted quickly to save at the feet of Sam Collins.

 

Play was even and neither side created many opportunities, but Hornchurch went close with a Billy Coyne free kick after Danny Johnson was fouled.

 

Johnson was then in action at the other end with a timely tackle on Lewis Taaffe, and Concord began to force the pace, winning three corners, none of which posed any threat, Mott holding the first and the other two being cleared comfortably.

 

Two minutes before the interval a fine pass from Purcell sent Junior Luke away, but he was pulled back for offside, whilst almost on half time Martin Tuohy headed over from a Billy Coyne centre.

 

Hornchurch had two scoring chances within a minute of the restart – George Purcell moved in at speed but fired his shot wide, and thirty seconds later Kieran Bishop broke through but Steve King blocked his shot.

 

Concord began to dominate the midfield and took the lead through a twice taken free kick. Their attempt at taking the free kick quickly was thwarted by the referee, who ordered a retake and this time the ball was floated towards the far post where Matt Fry glided the ball home.

 

It could have been two just a minute later when Steve Cawley found himself unmarked and close to goal, but he hit his shot wide.

 

Nnamdi Nwachuku replaced Bishop and gave Concord a few concerns with his runs along the wing, but Concord generally had little difficulty in containing the home forwards, with Steve King dealing easily with the high balls that came his way down the middle.

 

Thomas Gogo came on for Bishop, and Joe Scott came on for Coyne.

 

Martin Tuohy neatly converted a cross from the right but was given offside, and a minute later Vickers raced out of his goal to kick clear as Tuohy broke through he middle. Vickers then saved from Purcell, before a defensive mistake allowed Concord to make things safe in the final minute, when Joey May misplaced clearance allowed Gary Ogilvie a clear run at goal – he took the ball around Sam Mott, who had raced out of goal, and calmly stroked the ball home.