HORNCHURCH 1 POTTERS BAR TOWN 0

[Dagger03]

Saturday 31-March-2018

 

HORNCHURCH 1  POTTERS BAR TOWN 0

 

HFC - Mott, Bentley, Porter, Lee, Cooper, Styles ©, Roberts (Hursit 72), Hogan (Collis 80), McKenzie, Purcell, Warner (Assombalonga 75)

Subs - Joseph, Palmer

 

PB - Laurencin, Doyle, Lomas, O’Leary, Budden, Grace, Nicholas (Adcock 75), Lawal (Brown 82), Murray, Casey (Ward-Cochrane 64), Fernandes

Subs - Wambeek, Baird

 

Officials - Lee Dyson with Joe Gray and Paul Agboola

 

Scorer - Lee 5

 

Bookings - Doyle 21 (PB) - Hogan 68 (H) - Collis 89 (H)

Attendance 268

Duration - 48.00 + 49.00

 

HORNCHURCH 1  POTTERS BAR TOWN 0

 

Despite the heavy rain of the previous day, there was no need for a pitch inspection as the playing surface was in excellent condition, although it was a much-changed starting line up for Hornchurch, with Nathan Livings, Theo Fairweather-Johnson and Olumide Oluwatimilehin all absent. Manager Colin McBride gave Harry Palmer his first home squad appearance, and Dave Collis was also named as substitute.

 

The match started in bright sunshine, but the weather quickly became overcast, although the threatened rain held off.

 

Hornchurch started strongly and on five minutes George Purcell was fouled ten yards outside the area. Purcell took the free kick, goalkeeper Berkley Laurencin was unable to hold the powerful shot, and Kenzer Lee followed up to place the ball into the net.

 

Potters Bar survived two corners, and Laurencin saved well from Purcell, and it was not until the 26^th minute that the home goal came under threat, when a free kick was played into the goalmouth by Michael Murray, and although he ball ended up in the net, the flag was already raised for offside.

 

Shortly afterwards Murray hammered a free kick high over the bar, and back at the windmill end of the ground, an Alex Bentley free kick found Connor Hogan, whose hard drive was well held by Laurencin.

 

As the match moved into stoppage time, Laurencin saved from Purcell, and back at the other end Murray hit another free kick high over the bar.

 

Hornchurch were forced to defend for much of the second half, and Murray again sent a shot high and over the bar just four minutes after the interval.

 

Hornchurch defended in depth but Sam Mott was rarely threatened, apart from making a save from a well struck shot by Sandro Fernandes.

 

Potters Bar won several corners, from the third of which a hard shot from just outside the area cannoned off Kenzer Lee, who needed lengthy attention before being able to continue.

 

Jay Porter turned a dangerous cross from the left out for another corner, and, as the match entered the final minutes, Murray sent another free kick high over the crossbar.

 

Mott saved a close range header from Steve Brown, and Mott was again called upon, this time to hold a difficult cross from the left, after Dave Collis had conceded the free kick. Collis was ideally placed to make an excellent block as Potters Bar tried one more time to force the equaliser, but Mott had been rarely troubled during a match where the home defence was in excellent form, and Hornchurch are now ten points ahead, and firmly in control at the top of the table.

[urchinman1961]

Hard slog and we had to dig in but seriously did Sam have make a save ? Onwards and upwards and heads screwed on

[cup of tea]

Massive win today . I know I’m biased but I believe that we have the best back 4 in this league . Great effort all around, you can see the commitment from all the players today. If someone was to say you could take 6 points out of 9 from Canvey , Bowers and Potters Bar at this time of the season I would have no hesitation in taking that. Special mention to Connor Hogan who put In a real shift in midfield. Need to show the same level of commitment on Monday and hopefully get a result there as well. Guaranteed play off place now but obviously our target is higher than that.