HORNCHURCH 4 CHELMSFORD CITY 3
Matches with Chelmsford usually produce a few goals, and this one was
no exception, although it was an unusual looking Hornchurch line up,
with several players missing through injury and being cup-tied.
Hornchurch kicked towards the restaurant end of the ground in the first
half, which caused a wholesale swopping of ends by both sets of
supporters, with a very good following from Chelmsford.
City had the first opportunity when Matthew Lock crashed a free kick hard into the wall, and this almost led to the first goal at the other end, for the ball was immediately played up field for Jo Flack to chase, but Ashley Harrison was first to reach the ball at the edge of the penalty area. Hornchurch took the lead in the fifth minute, when Billy Coyne played the ball along to Michael Spencer who centred for Rikki Burbridge to power his header goalwards, where Harrison made an excellent save to turn the ball around the post. Andy Tomlinson took the corner and ELLIOT STYLES headed powerfully into the net.
City came back quickly and Ricky Holmes floated over a corner which curved onto the roof of the net. Jo Flack then chased a long ball down the middle and Mark Haines came across to clear, and this led to one of Billy Coyne’s massively long throws, which found Elliot Styles, whose header went inches over the bar. A Tomlinson corner was comfortably cleared and a good run through the middle by Jamie Dormer saw the resulting shot skim the City bar. There was a very long stoppage when Elliot Styles and Ricky Modeste collided heavily in midfield, and both had to be substituted, Elliot with yet another bad cut on his head, and Modeste with a very nasty looking mouth injury.
A good run by Michael Spencer ended when no one could reach the cross, and a long throw from Billy Coyne was headed away by Steve Ward. City levelled with a good shot from outside the area by RICKY HOLMES, and City could have taken the lead when Holmes made a penetrating run from the half way line, and his shot was just over the bar. Holmes again, with a good centre which Jonathan Spencer played out for a corner, whilst at the other end JO Flack laid the ball out to Dormer whose dipping cross shot went narrowly wide of the far post. A Tomlinson free kick drifted out of play with no one able to get the touch, but Hornchurch went ahead again when Ryan Kaylor combined with Jamie Dormer, and the ball was played out to Michael Spencer, whose cross was powered home by JO FLACK.
Hornchurch went further ahead when RYAN KAYLOR came in rapidly from the right to cut inside and hit his shot hard into the net, and it was something of a surprise when the first half ended with only one minute added on to normal time, despite the very long stoppage involving Elliot Styles and Ricky Modeste. City came out strongly in the second half, and a Holmes corner was headed out for another corner by Ronnie Fletcher, and Holmes second corner was cleared by Mitchell Stuart-Evans. Kaylor then made a long run along the right and Michael Spencer went close from the resulting centre. Fletcher cleared a Holmes free kick, and at the other end a Tomlinson free kick crashed into the wall, and the rebound was handled inside the area to give Hornchurch a penalty. With no Jonathan Hunt, and with Jo Flack missing the last penalty, it was left to Jamie Dormer to take the kick, and Ashley Harrison dived to his left to make a good save. Ryan Batchford was booked prior to the penalty and Anthony Cook followed him into the book soon afterwards, and next to go into the book was Ricky Holmes for a foul on Andy Tomlinson.
Burbridge put Jo Flack clear but Ward covered and Harrison was able to save Flack’s hurried shot, but Urchins scored again when Andy Tomlinson’s corner was headed home by JO FLACK. Within a minute City had pulled a goal back after John Martin went down inside the area and DAVID RAINFORD stepped up to hammer the penalty home, with Darren Behcet then going into the book. City threw everyone forward and pulled another goal back when ROBERT EDMANS lobbed the ball home with just four minutes left. City were unable to break through in the final few minutes and it was Hornchurch who looked the more composed, with Burbridge going close, and Michael Spencer almost breaking through on the left. |
