ENFIELD TOWN 2 HORNCHURCH 2

[Dagger03]

Saturday 18-August-2018

ENFIELD TOWN 2  HORNCHURCH 2

 

ET - Wright, Hatton, Sutton, Johnson, Olomowewe, McLean, Taaffe, Youngs (Mubiay 90), Hope (Adams 73), Chaney, Savourd (Parcell 80)

Subs - Hockney, Tunbridge

 

HFC - Chafer, Bentley, Porter, Lee (Hursit 38), Cooper ©, Coker, Warner, Hogan, Marks, Purcell (Fairweather-Johnson 61), Livings (Saunders 61)

Subs - McKenzie, Collis

 

Officials - Michael Pegley with Deryll David and Alex Baker

 

Scorers - Olomowewe 18 (ET) - Hope 51 (ET) - Warner 77 (H) - Marks 90+1 (H)

 

Bookings - Hogan 70 (H) - Chaney 71 (ET)

Attendance 443

Duration 50.00 + 47.00

 

ET - White / blue / blue

H - all yellow

 

ENFIELD TOWN 2  HORNCHURCH 2

 

With an hour gone, it was beginning to look like damage limitation as Enfield repeatedly threatened to run up more goals. But then Jim McFarlane played his get out of gaol cards in the shape of Theo Fairweather-Johnson and George Saunders, and Hornchurch clawed their way back.

 

Earlier Hornchurch had lost Kenzer Lee with an arm injury, and Alex Bentley moved into the centre of the defence, with Jamie Hursit taking over at right back.

 

Just two minutes had elapsed when a shot from 30 yards rattled the Hornchurch cross bar, and at the other end a George Purcell centre was headed away. Hornchurch forced two corners, neither of which came to anything, and Callum Chafer was in action, saving well from a close range shot from Liam Hope.

 

Nathan Cooper and Kenzer Lee both made timely tackles as the home side swarmed forward, with a clever build-up from midfield, in contrast to the long ball tactics at the other end that were usually headed straight back.

 

After a spell of intense pressure, Enfield went ahead on 18 minutes after Chafer had turned a Sam Youngs shot out for a corner on the right. The ball was played into a crowded goalmouth, where Taofig Olomowewe took advantage of the ensuing goalmouth scramble to force the ball over the line.

 

Hornchurch had difficulty in clearing a long throw from the right, Cooper turning it out for a corner, which led to a second corner, which was played too short and cleared by Jay Porter.

 

Back at the other end Purcell fired a free kick high over the bar, and then hit a shot wide when he ran on to Bradley Warner’s free kick, but most of the play took place in the Hornchurch half of the field.

 

On 38 minutes Kenzer Lee needed a long spell of attention, before going off with what appeared to be an arm injury, and Jamie Hursit took his place in a reshuffled and overworked defence.

 

As the half went into the first of five minutes stoppage time Lewis Taaffe sent a free kick over the bar and in the final seconds of the half a long shot from Remi Sutton dipped dangerously onto the roof of the net.

 

Hornchurch almost drew level in the first minute of the second half when Purcell sent over a cross from the left, the ball running tantalising across the face of the goal with no one able to get a touch.

 

Another long throw led to a goalmouth scramble and eventually a corner, but on 52 minutes a free kick was sent out to the right side of the pitch, where the ball was immediately played back low into the middle for Liam Hope to score from close range.

 

Enfield looked as though they would increase their tally, but the pattern of the game changed when Theo Fairweather-Johnson and George Saunders came on to boost the attack, with Saunders looking particular dangerous on the right.

 

Chafer did well to tip a long range shot over the bar, but Hornchurch came back quickly and a Hursit free kick reached Nathan Cooper, with Joe Wright saving well. Three minutes later, Hornchurch won a free kick some thirty yards out. Brad Warner stepped up and fired his shot hard past the wall and into the net, and a comeback seemed on the cards.

 

With six minutes to go, Enfield had a free kick of their own, the same distance out, but the ball cannoned back off the defensive wall.

 

Connor Hogan went close from a Fairweather-Johnson cross from the left, but it seemed that Enfield, earlier so dominant, would be able to hold on for the two minutes of stoppages. One minute into the added time, George Saunders left his marker trailing out on the right, and he played the ball low into the goalmouth, where Sean Marks equalised from close range to give Hornchurch a share of the points, the goal sending the away following wild with delight, whilst the home supporters stood in stunned silence.