Report:
By Bailey Howard
Hornchurch’s Emirates FA Cup journey came to an earlier close at the second qualifying round stage, as ten-man Urchins were narrowly edged out for the first time this season, 2-1 by Peterborough Sports at PIMS Park on Saturday afternoon.
Despite being a man down for the entirety of the second half, the Urchins fought hard and briefly found themselves level through Thomas Wraight’s Seventy-first minute header, before the hosts quickly restored their lead through Theo Williams to confirm their place in the next round.
Following last Saturday’s 1–1 draw away from home against Ebbsfleet in the Enterprise National League South, Daryl McMahon made a few changes to the side, with Charlie Adams, Sean Scannell, and Charlie Ruff all making a start.
The game started evenly with both sides enjoying early spells of possession, and Hornchurch’s first real chance came when a deflected effort dropped kindly for Henry Sandat, but he couldn’t keep his effort on target.
At the other end, Arthur Nasta was called into action early on, gathering comfortably from Bayley McCann’s tight-angled effort and again was alert to deny Sam Straughan-Brown after a slick Turbines move involving McCann and Sam McLintock.
Afterwards, the Urchins survived a goalmouth scare when Ryan Fryatt’s header was cleared off the line, before Mark Jones went close with a shot wide and Peterborough Sports took the lead in the 26th minute, when debutant Marcel Oakley latched onto a high ball and lobbed Nasta from the edge of the area in a composed finish, 1-0 Peterborough Sports.
Hornchurch were then dealt a double blow late into the half as Henry Hearn was sent off for two bookable offences. The first one came in the thirty-fourth minute for a foul on Straughan-Brown, before he was shown a second yellow in stoppage time for simulation in the box, a decision that was met with strong protest from the away dugout.
Manager Daryl McMahon made changes at the break, introducing Angelo Balanta and Charlie Pegrum, and both substitutes had early efforts on goal, with Balanta testing Sam Edwards at his near post and Pegrum firing through a crowd, only to be denied again by the home keeper.
Hornchurch’s persistence paid off in the seventy-first minute, when a deep cross was met by Captain Tom Wraight, who rose at the back post to nod home the equaliser and give the travelling supporters delight and hope, 1-1 Hornchurch.
However, just seven minutes later, Peterborough Sports struck, what proved to be the winner, as Theo Williams slotted home at the far post past Arthur Nasta, following a low delivery from Straughan-Brown, 2-1 Peterborough Sports.
The Urchins pushed for a late leveller with Angelo Balanta heading wide and Makai Welch seeing an effort saved, but despite a spirited display and playing a man short for more than half the game, Hornchurch have bowed out of the competition with their heads held high and now focus back to the league next Saturday with a trip to Slough Town at Arbour Park.
Full Time – Peterborough Sports 2-1 Hornchurch FC
Emirates FA Cup – Second Qualifying Round
Saturday 14 September 2025 | PIMS Park
Attendance: 259
Stats
You can find the Stats from this match on our archive site here
