Report

By Bailey Howard

Hornchurch fell to a disappointing narrow 2–1 defeat on Tuesday night in the Essex Senior Cup quarter-final against Hashtag United, ending their run in the competition.

In a tight and competitive tie, the Urchins were ultimately undone by goals from May-Parrott in the first half and Jesse Ayoola late on, either side of Darren McQueen’s well-worked equaliser.

McMahon made several changes from the weekend’s defeat, but Hornchurch settled quickly and began with intent, as Charlie Pegrum’s early effort just cleared the bar before Rhys Byrne was called into action at the other end, saving low in the tenth minute. 

The game continued at a lively pace, and Hornchurch came close with Charlie Ruff on sixteen minutes following a neat through ball from Morias, and former Urchin Joe Christou had an effort towards goal, which forced another save from Byrne shortly after.

However, it was the hosts who struck first. On Twenty minutes, Luke May-Parrott found space in the box and guided a well-placed header beyond Byrne, giving Hashtag a 1–0 advantage. 

After the goal, not much danger happened either end and two minutes of added time brought no further change, and Hornchurch went into the break trailing by a single goal.

Half-Time: Hashtag United 1–0 Hornchurch

At the interval, Darren McQueen replaced Nathan Bertram-Cooper as McMahon sought greater cutting edge in attack. 

Hornchurch began the second half brightly, with Ruff twice threatening, first with a free-kick that cleared the bar on fifty-four minutes, then with a driven strike five minutes later that Jack Giddens initially spilled before gathering.

The pressure continued to build, and on Sixty-nine minutes, the Urchins found their deserved equaliser. A moment of excellent wing play from Junior Morias saw him burst to the byline and slide the ball perfectly across goal for McQueen, who arrived in the right place to tap home and bring Hornchurch level, 1-1 Hornchurch.

The goal lifted the side, and further changes saw Balanta and Gibbs introduced as the visitors looked to push on, but Byrne was called into action again on eighty-four minutes, producing a strong low save to keep the game level. 

Four minutes until a penalty shootout was calling, Hashtag reclaimed their lead in unfortunate fashion for Hornchurch. After Byrne parried an initial effort, the loose ball fell kindly to Jesse Ayoola at the back post, who slotted into the bottom right corner to make it 2–1. 

With five minutes added on, McMahon’s men pushed forward in search of another equaliser, but despite their efforts the breakthrough never came, and the Urchins were forced to bow out of the competition.

Hornchurch’s cup journey ends at the quarter-final stage, but the focus now shifts to more cup action, this time in FA Trophy third round action, where Daryl McMahon’s side will look to respond quickly with a trip to Dover Athletic. 

Full-Time – Hashtag United 2–1 Hornchurch
Essex Senior Cup Quarter-Final

Tuesday 9th December 2025, Parkside 

Attendance: 125 

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