Match Stats
Hornchurch were made to settle for a point at Bridge Avenue as a determined Dover Athletic side battled to a goalless draw.
The league leaders entered the fixture in red-hot form, unbeaten in their last nine outings and full of confidence after a string of commanding performances.
Daryl McMahon made two changes to the starting line-up with Charlie Ruff replacing Henry Sandat and Giles Phillips entering the stage to replace Sam Kuffour, who has returned to Colchester United after being recalled.
The game got underway and the Urchins started brightly, immediately setting the tempo and testing visiting keeper Mitch Walker within the opening minutes. Josh Rees forced a sharp save with a low strike just three minutes in, before another effort was smothered in a crowded box.
Hornchurch continued to press, but Dover weathered the early pressure and gradually grew into the contest. Alfie Matthews’ free-kick and a tame effort from Luke Baptiste after good work by George Nikaj provided warnings, though Arthur Nasta remained unstoppable.
In the twenty-sixth minute, the best chance for the visitors came in the first half, where the combination of George Nikaji and Luke Baptiste linked up again. Dover attacked and Nikaj’s driving run into the box teed up Baptiste, whose shot was nearly tapped home into an empty net, but was collected right on the line by Nasta.
Later on in the first half, Hornchurch came closest to a breakthrough shortly before the interval. In the fortieth minute, Darren McQueen cut in from the left and unleashed a superb curling strike that cannoned off the crossbar, bounced onto the post, and somehow stayed out of the goal net before Walker pounced on the loose ball. It was a moment that had the home crowd on their feet, but the scoreline stayed level at the break.
Half Time – Hornchurch 0-0 Dover Athletic
Hornchurch looked to reassert their authority in the second half, with McQueen continuing to cause problems for the Dover back line. His deflected shot early on forced a corner, but the Urchins couldn’t capitalise from the resulting set-piece.
As the game wore on, frustration began to creep in for the hosts as Angelo Balanta had his effort saved by Walker and minutes later Dover, growing in belief, nearly snatched the lead themselves in the seventy-fifth minute, when Jacob Mensah rose to meet a deep free-kick and struck the post with a powerful header. A moment later, Hornchurch attacked and Charlie Pegrum had his strike well saved again by Walker.
Manager Daryl McMahon turned to his bench in search of a winner, introducing Myles Weston, Henry Hearn and Harry Brooke to inject fresh impetus into the attack.
While there were promising moments in the final third, clear-cut chances remained few and far between and Dover, for their part, remained compact and disciplined, making life difficult for the Urchins.
In the dying minutes, Myles Weston created Hornchurch’s final chance, but was saved by Walker and from the opportunity, Francis Mampolo broke clear for the visitors, but failed to produce a telling final ball, and despite five minutes of stoppage time, the game remained goalless as the referee blew his whistle.
The draw keeps Hornchurch unbeaten and top of the table. The Urchins will hopefully aim to return back to winning ways next weekend at home as they look to consolidate their position against Horsham FC.
Full Time – Hornchurch 0-0 Dover Athletic
Enterprise National League South
Saturday 27th September 2025 | Bridge Avenue
Attendance: 836
