From the Romford Recorder

[Digger The Cat]

HORNCHURCH were delighted to attract a crowd of close to 1,000 to the Stadium for Tuesday’s opening home friendly against a youthful West Ham side.

The pace and sharpness of the young Hammers, who won 3-1, certainly gave Cohn McBride’s team a good workout.

The whole squad, apart from Simon Parker and the injured Joe Keith, got a game, giving home fans apart from the loyalists who travelled to Concord on Saturday the first chance to see their summer signings.

The two experienced Richards, Goddard and Halle, were solid as expected.

But Harry Elmes found it hard going up front though his fierce, curling shot from the corner of the box brought the save of the night from impressive Hammers keeper Marek Stech.

A new arrival, former Sudbury midfielder Michael Brothers, looked likely to become a valuable acquisition on the left of midfield, not least for his bullet-like long throws.

Another recent arrival, who saw second-half action, was ex Aldershot midfielder Sean Ridgeway.

The man of the hour, though, is young Shane Oakley.

A member of last season’s Capital League squad, he made only one brief appearance as a substitute for the first team.

But he struck a glorious goal for

Urchin from a tight angle, admittedly only a late consolation, to follow up his two early strikes in Saturday’s 2-0 victory at Concord. He could be one to watch, though the successful strike force of Kris Lee and Parker will take some shifting.

It’s back to Essex Senior League opposition tomorrow (Saturday) when Urchins take the long and winding road to the home of I Burnham Ramblers. Then they travel to Dulwich on Tuesday to face Conference South outfit Fisher.