HORNCHUCH 3 EAST THURROCK 0

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Saturday 07-September-2013

HORNCHURCH  3  EAST THURROCK UTD  0

 

HFC – Inigo Echepare – Billy Coyne  (Joey May 72)  – Alex Bentley – Rickie Hayles – Elliot Styles © - Frankie Curley – Derek Duncan (Tambeson Eyong at half time)– Phil Starkey - Stefan Peyne (Carl Rook 69)  – George Purcell– Chris Bourne

Subs – Michael Spencer– Ade Yusuff

 

ETU – Darren Behcet – Ryan Sammons – Tom Stephen – Simon Eddie – Steve Sheehan © - ea Dawson – Luke Wanadio (Grant Eagle 72) – Stuart Thurgood – Leon McKenzie – David Bryant – Connor Witherspoon

Subs – Mitchell Gilbey – Tom Anderson – Ross Parmenter – David Hughes

 

Scorers – Chris Bourne 41 – George Purcell 55 – George Purcell 57

Bookings – Bryant 48 (ETU) – Thurgood 64 (ETU) – McKenzie 78 (ETU) – Sheehan 84 (ETU)

Attendance 328

Officials Stuart Franklin with Steve Bassingthwaighte and Paul Quick

Duration 46.00 + 48.00

Weather – sunny, 19 degrees

 

HORNCHURCH  3  EAST THURROCK UTD  0

 

Despite the incredibly inept coverage given to Hornchurch by the local paper – there was not even a report in this week’s issue, and it is difficult to recall when they last sent a reporter to a Hornchurch home match, despite the presence of SatNav – the attendance showed a marked increase, the 328 present almost exclusively supporting Hornchurch. Included in today’s crowd was Joe ‘Geordie’ Trotter, who sponsors Tambeson Eyong. Geordie made the lengthy trip down from Newcastle and thoroughly enjoyed his day out.

 

On a bright sunny day Hornchurch kicked towards the social club end of the ground in the first half, and almost took the lead in the first minute, when Derek Duncan’s shot cannoned back off of a defender, almost on the goal line.

 

But it was the visitors who enjoyed the bulk of the territorial play in the first twenty minutes, winning two corners in succession, the second of which was punched to safety by Inigo Echepare, and threatening again when Luke Wanadio slotted through to Leon McKenzie, who ran on and fired in a hard shot, which was saved in fine style by Inigo, with Rickie Hayles completing the clearance.

 

And when David Bryant sent McKenzie through the middle, Inigo had to race off his line to narrow the angle, forcing McKenzie to fire high over the bar. McKenzie had a further chance soon afterwards, but Inigo came out quickly and the resulting shot hit the side netting.

 

At the other end Phil Starkey directed his first time shot a fraction too high from Billy Coyne’s centre, and Darren Behcet saved from George Purcell.

 

East Thurrock had the ball in the net soon afterwards. A free kick out on the left by Stuart Thurgood eluded everyone and finished up in the far corner, but the linesman’s flag was up long before, to indicate offside as a visiting forward obstructed Inigo as he went for the ball.

 

As the match progressed Hornchurch began to dominate. Coyne sent Purcell away and Darren Behcet touched the shot out for a corner. Duncan swung the ball over and Behcet punched clear.

 

The onslaught continued when Alex Bentley played through to Purcell, Behcet again saving well to prevent a goal.

 

Bentley then crossed to Stefan Payne, who glanced his header narrowly wide of the far post, as the pressure mounted.

 

Four minutes before the interval a long throw from Coyne bobbled around in the goalmouth, before the ball was planted firmly into the net by CHRIS BOURNE, and it could have been two when Payne crossed from the left for Purcell, whose shot was just inches wide of the post.

 

Tambeson Eyong came on for Derek Duncan at the start of the second half, and the visitors almost levelled in the first minute, Inigo diving full length to turn a David Bryant shot around the post.

 

As Hornchurch stepped up the pace, East Thurrock were forced to concentrate on defence, and picked up four bookings in the process.

 

Hornchurch increased their lead when Bentley sent a long ball out of defence, Payne drew the defence out of position, and GEORGE PURCELL ran in from the left to calmly slot the ball past Behcet.

 

Two minutes later there was a repeat performance; Frankie Curley started the move, Chris Bourne played the ball out towards the left, and, with Payne again distracting the defence, and GEORGE PURCELL again ran in and slotted the ball home.

 

McKenzie won a corner, which Wanadio sent over, and McKenzie headed goalwards, but too high and over the bar.

 

Hornchurch almost added a fourth goal when Stefan Payne ran through to glide the ball into the net, but offside was given.

 

Carl Rook came on for Payne, and Joey May for Coyne, and Hornchurch continued to dominate, to the extent that the visitors picked up four second half bookings as they tried to contain the home forwards.

 

Inigo had little to do in the final half hour, but was still called upon to make a good save from Simon Peddie in what was by now a rare East Thurrock breakaway.