Report: AFC Totton

First Team

National League South Sat 22 November Hornchurch Stadium

Hornchurch

AFC Totton

1-1

Match Centre

By Bailey Howard

Hornchurch were made to work hard in torrential conditions at Bridge Avenue as the league leaders drew 1-1 and walked away with a point after a fiercely contested clash with AFC Totton, but still hold a firm grip on top spot.

Despite Hornchurch snatching a first-half lead through new signing Aaron Henry as he delivered the service that the Hornchurch FC postman ordered, with a superb free-kick after surviving AFC Totton’s bright opening, but the visitors eventually drew level when Joe Oastler forced in a header from a crowded corner.

Following Tuesday’s 4-0 Essex Senior Cup midweek action against Grays Athletic at home, Daryl McMahon made six changes to his side, giving new signing Aaron Henry from Boreham Wood on loan a debut in front of the home crowd, with Arthur Nasta, Frankie Edwards, Makai Welch, Nathan Bertram-Cooper and Tom Wraight straight back into the starting eleven.

The game kicked off and the visitors, AFC Totton, started sharply and forced Hornchurch’s Arthur Nasta into two superb early saves. Inside the opening eight minutes, Nasta tipped over a close-range header from Malachi Linton after a deep cross from the right, before reacting brilliantly again from the resulting corner to deny Tyler Cordner.

Hornchurch grew into the game, and on the fourteenth minute, the Urchins had their first clear sight of goal. Charlie Ruff found space in the box and tried to bend a left-footed finish into the bottom corner, only for Max Evans to get down well to keep it out.

AFC Totton continued to threaten, and in the twenty-fourth minute Linton went closest after running onto a ball lifted over the top. With Nasta advancing, he lofted his effort over the keeper but watched it roll agonisingly wide of the far post, whilst Tony Lee’s effort moments later was hit straight at Nasta.

Hornchurch completely shifted the momentum of the game and in the fortieth minute, Charlie Pegrum rattled the crossbar before Aaron Henry’s cross found Tom Wraight at the back post, but Evans produced a strong save. One minute later, Charlie Ruff showed brilliant skill and unleashed a powerful strike, only for Evans to deny him again.

As the half ticked into added time, Hornchurch struck and got a deserved lead. After two corners weren’t fully cleared, Christos Batzelis brought down Aaron Henry on the edge of the box. Although play had gone several minutes beyond the single minute signaled, Aaron Henry stepped up to aim and continue his free kick specialty and Henry just did that with real quality by burying the free-kick into the bottom right-hand corner past Evans to give the Urchins a 1–0 lead going into the break, 1-0 Hornchurch.

Half Time – Hornchurch 1-0 AFC Totton

The second half got underway and opened up in chaotic fashion. Within thirty seconds, AFC Totton’s Tony Lee attempted an outrageous volley from the halfway line and the wind carried it over Nasta, but onto the crossbar.

Moments later, Hornchurch should have doubled their lead when it was superb play by the Urchins with the final ball being passed to Charlie Pegrum to poke it home, but fired it over the bar from only a few yards out.

The chances kept coming in the game for Hornchurch to try and close the game to bed, and just before the hour mark, Ruff found the goal gaping open, but curled his effort wide from inside the box with Evans stranded.

Daryl McMahon made two attacking substitutions to aim for a second goal, with Angelo Balanta replacing Charlie Ruff, while the second involved Henry Sandat coming on for Frankie Edwards, but four minutes later, AFC Totton eventually equalised. A corner was crossed into a crowded six-yard area, and it caused problems, with Joe Oastler being the man found, and headed the ball past Nasta to make it level, 1-1 AFC Totton.

In the 80th minute, Daryl McMahon made another double switch, with Welch replaced by Gile Phillips and Darren McQueen replaced by Myles Weston.

Both sides pushed for a winner late on, but neither could find the decisive moment. In difficult conditions, the Urchins showed resilience to take a point, though there would be frustration that the missed chances couldn’t be converted into all three points.

The Urchins remain top of the National League South table and sit four points clear, and next up for Daryl McMahon’s men is a trip next weekend away from home to face third-place Worthing in league action.

Full-Time – Hornchurch 1-1 AFC Totton