Report
By Bailey Howard
Hornchurch booked their place in the Essex Senior Cup quarter-finals in emphatic fashion on Tuesday night, sweeping aside Isthmian North Grays Athletic side with a dominant 4–0 victory at the Bridge.
It was a performance full of control, composure and clinical finishing, as the Urchins bounced back from Saturday’s cup exertions with a confident display on home soil.
Daryl McMahon made several changes to the side that progressed in the FA Trophy, with Charlee Adams, Darren McQueen, George Wind, Harry Brooke, and later Henry Sandat, Makai Welch and Sean Scannell all featuring as part of the rotation.
The game got underway, and the hosts wasted little time asserting themselves, creating the first meaningful opening in three minutes when Charlee Adams’ early strike fizzed narrowly past the upright.
Hornchurch continued to build pressure, and on nineteen minutes, Charlie Ruff forced a smart stop from Grays goalkeeper George Marsh, who tipped his effort around the post.
Though the resulting corner was cleared, the Urchins’ momentum only grew, and the breakthrough arrived on the twenty-fifth minute with a superbly crafted goal. Ruff delivered a delightful cross from the right, picking out Myles Weston at the far post, who crashed the ball home to give Hornchurch a deserved lead, 1-0 Hornchurch.
Grays tried to respond and produced their best moments of the half shortly before the interval. First, Sam Wade tested Rhys Byrne with a firm effort, which the young keeper held well, before Byrne produced an outstanding save moments later, diving low to turn away a volley from the edge of the area. His interventions ensured the Urchins carried their one-goal advantage into the break.
Half-Time – Hornchurch 1–0 Grays Athletic
Daryl McMahon introduced Henry Sandat and Nathan Cooper at the restart, and Hornchurch immediately re-established control.
Three minutes into the half, a cleared corner dropped perfectly for Ruff, who was on the edge of the box, and he drilled a precise volley strike past Marsh to double the lead, 2-0 Hornchurch.
Barely two minutes later, the hosts were out of sight. Charlee Adams, instrumental throughout, strode forward and unleashed a thumping twenty-five yard effort that just flew past Marsh and rifled into the net, 3-0 Hornchurch.
With the Urchins dominating the ball and dictating the tempo, further changes followed as Makai Welch and Sean Scannell entered the fray.
Hornchurch continued to carve out chances, and the fourth goal arrived fifteen minutes from time. A clever through ball found Sandat, who slid a perfectly weighted pass into the path of Darren McQueen, and the striker made no mistake, finishing confidently beyond the keeper to round off an excellent team move, 4-0 Hornchurch.
Ruff nearly added a fifth late on with a well-struck free-kick from twenty yards, but Marsh held it well. Nonetheless, the damage had long been done, and the Urchins closed out the match with maturity and assurance.
A commanding and professional performance sees Hornchurch march into the quarter-finals, showcasing their attacking fluidity and defensive steel throughout the evening.
With confidence high and momentum building, McMahon’s side turns their attention back to league action on Saturday and hopes to get back onto the winning track as Hornchurch face AFC Totton at the Bridge, carrying with them the assuredness of another outstanding home victory.
Full-Time – Hornchurch 4–0 Grays Athletic
Essex Senior Cup Fourth Round
Tuesday 18th November 2025 | Bridge Avenue
Attendance: 252
Match Stats
You will be able to find the stats from this match here.
