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Report (By Bailey Howard)
Hornchurch march on with another three points on home soil as the Urchins extended their unbeaten league run to sixteen in the Enterprise National League South and reclaimed top spot on Saturday afternoon with a hard-fought 2–1 victory over Hampton and Richmond at Bridge Avenue.
Goals coming from Angelo Balanta and Charlie Pegrum secured the points for Daryl McMahon’s side, who continue their fine form at home ahead of next week’s mouthwatering trip to Torquay United.
The Urchins boss made just two changes to the side that won last weekend in the league against Bath City, with Charlie Pegrum and Makai Welch both coming into the starting eleven, replacing Myles Weston and Charlie Ruff.
As the game got underway, it was the visitors who started brightly, showing attacking intent through Harry Gardner, whose early effort was well blocked by the Hornchurch defence.
The home faithful were in fine voice, roaring their side forward as the Urchins began to grow into the game, but Hampton and Richmond continued to threaten in the early stages with the lively Ronan Silva flashing two dangerous crosses across the face of Arthur Nasta’s goal, but neither found a touch.
The Urchins responded on the twenty-first minute, when a Josh Hare free-kick fell kindly to Harry Gibbs, from which his strike was bravely blocked before Henry Hearn headed narrowly wide from the resulting play.
Moments later, the hosts came even closer as Angelo Balanta cleverly flicked the ball onto Hearn, who rounded past James Holden, but could only find the side netting from a tight angle.
Hornchurch were beginning to turn the screw, and their persistence paid off just after the half-hour mark. Some good pressing from Hearn forced an error in the Hampton and Richmond backline, and the loose ball broke to Angelo Balanta on the edge of the box as the experienced forward made no mistake, drilling a composed finish beyond Holden to give the Urchins a deserved lead, 1-0 Hornchurch.
Before the break, Hampton and Richmond looked for a response, with Silva trying his luck from distance, but his strike was straight at Nasta.
Four minutes were added right near the end, and Hornchurch created on the final chance of the half as Balanta almost doubled his tally in stoppage time with a crisp volley that flew just over the bar.
Half-Time – Hornchurch 1–0 Hampton & Richmond Borough
At the restart, Urchins’ Boss Daryl McMahon introduced forward Darren McQueen and defender Nathan Bertram-Cooper in place of Makai Welch and Frankie Edwards.
Hornchurch started the second half with real intent, and just four minutes after the break, they struck again. The ball broke kindly through to Charlie Pegrum inside the area, and the midfielder took a touch before firing confidently into the far corner past Holden to double the advantage for the red-hot Urchins, Hornchurch 2-0.
Minutes later, Hornchurch Captain Tom Wraight then looked to add a third, but his speculative effort from range sailed over the bar.
Fifty-eight minutes had passed, and Hampton and Richmond struggled to create clear openings to get back into the game, with their next chance falling to Kai Innocent, whose long-range strike flew well over.
The visitors were, though, given a lifeline on seventy-three minutes, when they were awarded a free-kick just outside the Hornchurch box. Harry Gardner stepped up and curled a superb effort over the wall and beyond Nasta to halve the deficit, 2-1 Hampton and Richmond.
McMahon on the sidelines reacted with a double change, bringing on Harry Brooke and Myles Weston for Tom Wraight and Charlie Pegrum to add fresh legs in midfield and attack.
In the eighty-first minute, Hornchurch Substitute Darren McQueen came close to restoring the two-goal cushion with a fine strike that was well saved by Holden in the Hampton and Richmond goal, and late on in the eighty-seventh minute, Charlie Ruff replaced Substitute Harry Brooke to help the Urchins see out the game as Brooke went down injured.
Five minutes of added time was added on right at the end and Hornchurch remained organised and composed, managing the closing stages superbly to secure another valuable three points to preserve their unbeaten league record. After collecting the three points, Daryl McMahon’s men have bounced back to the top of the National League South table and now will prepare for a huge clash next weekend away to Paul Wotton’s Torquay United at Plainmoor.
Full-Time – Hornchurch 2–1 Hampton and Richmond Borough
Enterprise National League South
Saturday 25th October 2025 | Bridge Avenue
Attendance: 758
