HORNCHURCH 2 CANVEY 0 - report

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Tuesday 10-March-2015

HORNCHURCH  2  CANVEY ISLAND  0

 

HFC – Sam Mott – Junior Luke – Billy Coyne – Elliot Styles © - Billy Roast – Frankie Curley – Joey May (Courtney Homans 90+2) – Danny Johnson – Tobi Joseph – George Purcell (Martin Tuohy 68) – Reece Beckles-Richards (Kieran Bishop 68)

Subs – Thomas Gogo – Nnamdi Nwachuku

 

CI – Tim Brown – Dan King – Joe Carter (Harrison Tweddle 80) – Ben Marlow – Josh Banton – John Easterford © - George Sykes – Harrison Chatting – Enoch Showunmi – John Curran – Jack Simons (Marlon Agyakwa 73)

Subs – Charlie Barlow – Manny Sackey – George Doyle

 

Officials – previous matches involving Hornchurch

Paul Howard – referee v Carshalton 1/10/13, at Carshalton 1/4/14, at Kingstonian 30/4/14 - on line v Hastings 7/2/10, at Leatherhead 3/12/11, at Bromley 4/9/12, v Welling 26/12/12

Val Anekwa Anekwe – on line 9/11/10 at Folkestone – 5/11/11 at Harrow - 4/4/14 at Lowestoft – 9/8/14 at East Thurrock – 27/9/14  v Hampton, v Grays 1/1/15,

Jon Pickford – referee v East Thurrock 28/1/12 - on line v Horsham 19/2/08, at Chelmsford 11/11/09, at East Thurrock 1/12/09, v Aveley 2/1/10, v Colchester 3/8/10, v Leiston 15/2/14

 

Scorers – Purcell 23 – Tuohy 88p

Bookings – Curran 32 (CI) – Mott 34 (H) OFF – Purcell 62 (H) – Beckles-Richards 67 (H) – Easterford 87 (CI) OFF

Attendance 174

Duration 47.00 + 49.00

Weather – 6 degrees, clear

 

 

HORNCHURCH  2  CANVEY ISLAND  0

 

After the disappointment at Witham three days previously, it was a markedly different starting line up against Canvey, and the first half hour was encouraging, when Hornchurch dominated proceedings. This all changed when Sam Mott received a straight red for a mistimed challenge, and Elliot Styles, playing his 399^th match for the Urchins, went in goal. Canvey could not capitalise on the lack of a ‘real’ goalkeeper, and Hornchurch not only held out, but continued to impress and they increased their lead with a later goal to deservedly take the three points at stake.

 

George Purcell went close with a long-range volley in the second minute and Joey May hit the post from a Tobi Joseph cross shortly afterwards. Hornchurch continued to force the pace, and Reece Beckles-Richards was unlucky when he cut in from the left but put his shot over the bar.

 

Canvey were mainly forced to defend, although George Sykes missed a good opportunity when he fired over from a Jack Simmons cross.

 

Back at the windmill end, Tobi Joseph moved onto a long throw from Junior Luke, but directed his shot wide of the goal.

 

George Purcell gave Hornchurch the lead when he ran forward, past two defenders, and volleyed home spectacularly.

 

Joey May went close soon afterwards with a shot from 30 yards out, whilst John Curran was booked for a late tackle on Billy Coyne, back in the starting line up at left back.

 

A Canvey corner came to nothing but a minute later a badly mistimed back pass by Junior Luke forced Sam Mott to rush out of goal, but the Canvey forward got to the ball first and lobbed his shot goalwards, where it was cleared off the line just as the whistle went – result was a red card for Sam Mott, and a free kick for Canvey, delayed until Elliot Styles, in his 399^th match, pulled on the gloves and went in goal. Enoch Showunmi took the free kick, on the edge of the area, and the ball sailed harmlessly over the bar – but Hornchurch were now a player short, with a stand-in goalkeeper.

 

Apart from a corner, headed away by Billy Roast, Canvey did not threaten, and the only save Elliot had to make was a harmless long range shot from Ben Marlow which rolled into his hands. At the other end, Tim Brown saved from Beckles-Richards as Hornchurch began to press forward again.

 

Canvey briefly threatened at the start of the second half, but it was Hornchurch who went close when May’s free kick was headed on by Frankie Curley, and the ball was eventually scrambled clear.

 

Purcell tried a first time shot from a Luke free kick, but the ball went over the bar. And Purcell again threatened when he ran through on to a Joseph pass, eluded two defenders but his swerving shot was wide of the post.

 

Showunmi had a half chance for Canvey but quick reaction by Billy Roast saw the shot blocked, and as Canvey threw players forward, they did not trouble Elliot Styles, as they could not break through the very impressive home defence.

 

Purcell was booked for a challenge about ten yards outside the Hornchurch penalty area, but the free kick was sent high and wide, but a minute later Canvey were awarded a penalty. John Curran stepped up to take the kick, which cannoned off the post to safety, although several of the home side were still unhappy with the decision.

 

A Canvey corner was cleared easily, and at the other end Purcell weaved his way though but put his shot wide of the far post.

 

Beckles-Richards hit a shot against the post, but the whistle had already gone for offside and his reward was a yellow card. A minute later Martin Tuohy and Kieran Bishop replaced Beckles-Richards and Purcell, both of whom had been booked and were in danger of receiving a second yellow.

 

Bishop quickly made his mark with a good cross into the middle, where Tuohy’s shot was wide of the post, and, as Hornchurch continued to come forward, a shot from Junior Luke went across goal no one could get a touch as the ball rolled invitingly in front of the empty net.

 

Canvey introduced Marlon Agyakwa and Harrison Tweddle and threw players forward, but, apart from two attempts by George Sykes, neither of which caused any difficulties, they could not penetrate the home defence.

 

A Billy Coyne long throw caused consternation at the other end, before the ball was cleared for a corner, and Hornchurch again came forward as the Canvey challenge faded.

 

Three minutes from stoppage time, Martin Tuohy was tripped as he was about to shoot – result – red card for John Easterford, and a penalty, which Martin Tuohy planted firmly into the net for the second goal.

 

Courtney Homans came on for Joey May for the final two minutes, and Hornchurch had no difficulty in playing out the remaining time to take their second double of the season.

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As well as being Elliot's 399th match, it was also Joey May's 99th appearance.