A towering Harry Gibbs header earned Hornchurch a hard-fought point away at Josh Wright’s Ebbsfleet United, as the Urchins came from behind to draw 1–1 and extend their unbeaten run to eight and remain top in the Enterprise National League South.
Following Tuesday’s 1–0 home win over Dorking Wanderers, Daryl McMahon made one change to the side, with Makai Welch replacing Angelo Balanta, and Darren McQueen and Nathan Betram-Cooper returning, on the bench, from their injuries.
The game got off to a fast start, with both sides looking to make an early impression. Hornchurch created the first chance inside six minutes, as Tom Wraight fired just wide of the far post. Ebbsfleet responded with a couple of openings of their own. Toby Edser went close in the ninth minute after a corner fell to him on the edge of the box, but he blazed over.
Despite a bright start from Hornchurch, efforts by Wraight and Josh Hare in the twenty-first minute, it was the hosts who broke the deadlock on the twenty-seventh minute, a cross from the left found Josh Coley, who guided the ball home to give Ebbsfleet a 1–0 lead.
The goal briefly rocked the Urchins, but they soon regrouped and pushed forward. Just after the half-hour mark, Makai Welch combined well with Henry Hearn to set up Harry Gibbs, whose powerful header was well held by Fleet keeper Mark Cousins. Moments later, Henry Sandat found Josh Rees with a clever through ball, but once again, Cousins produced a smart stop to preserve the lead.
The Urchins finished the half strongly, with a late flurry of pressure leading to a goalmouth scramble in the forty-fifth minute, but Ebbsfleet managed to clear their lines. Hornchurch went into the break trailing, but very much still in the contest.
Half Time – Ebbsfleet United 1–0 Hornchurch
Hornchurch made a substitution at the break, with Sean Scannell being introduced in place of Charlie Pegrum. The visitors came out looking sharper, and Josh Coley went close for Ebbsfleet early in the half, but his strike flashed wide.
Hornchurch continued to press and found their equaliser just after the hour mark, a corner from a beautiful cross by Josh Hare, Harry Gibbs rose highest at the back post and powered home a header, bringing Hornchurch deservedly level in the sixty-first minute, 1–1.
That goal sparked life into both teams. Ben Chapman had an effort from distance that was comfortably gathered by Arthur Nasta, before a series of substitutions were made to inject fresh legs into the contest by Daryl McMahon. Charlie Ruff, Darren McQueen, Angelo Balanta, and Harry Brooke all came on in the busy final quarter of the match.
The Urchins had the better chances late on, and in the seventy-fifth minute, Henry Hearn met a teasing cross with a firm header, but once again Mark Cousins was equal to it, diving low to push the ball away off the line.
Five minutes were added at the end of the ninety. An injury sadly came to Will Greenidge when he suddenly went down by the halfway line, which meant a long delay. After our defender was stretchered off, both sides pushed forward in search of a decisive goal; neither could find a breakthrough and the referee called time immediately. A well-earned, valid point for Hornchurch, who showed a strong character, organisation, and growing resilience on the road and remain top of the league.
Full Time – Ebbsfleet United 1–1 Hornchurch
Attendance – 1,566 (198 away)
