Ryman League Division One North
Monday 28th August 2006
	Aveley	0 - 1	AFC Hornchurch
		H/T 0-1 Att: 278	Cross 38'

Match Highlights

Aveley

AFC Hornchurch

	38	GOAL - Cross
	45	OFF - S Parker ON - Sadler OFF - Lee ON - Holland
Dobson - OFF Sammons - ON	62
	70	OFF - Wareham ON - Tiffin

Match Report by Tony Middleton

With Adam Parker out after his series of injuries at Enfield and against Wivenhoe, Ross Wareham came into the starting line up. Dave Sadler had come through a full ninety minutes on Saturday and was named in the squad for the first time. Early arrivals were greeted by the smell of newly mown grass – unfortunately it was in the car park, and not on the pitch. The car park was a pleasant shade of green mixed with thick brown mud. No tannoy, as they had lost the microphone, no refreshments on the ground (only in the bar) – it was almost like being back in the ESL. Not quite, as two Urchins players were made to pay for admission – that is certainly different.

At start time there were around 200 Urchins in the crowd of about 300 (counted), and a lot more were still coming into the ground when Mangodski, complete with broad purple streak through his hair, fouled Lee, and from the free kick Simon Parker crossed to Lee whose shot screamed inches over the bar. And then it was Aveley who looked the more composed, with a series of raids, commencing with Adejokun’s (the last n is not pronounced) low cross was scrambled out, and then when Dixon set up Adejokun, whose shot was well saved by Brightley. Dobson then sped down the left wing, rounded Fletcher and his low shot cum cross was turned out by Brightley, Davey taking the corner which Wareham cleared.

Urchins came back, Janney breaking up a move inside his own half, gaining fifty yards along the wing, and finding Parker, whose centre was headed away for a corner by Strange. Janney went across to the left wing to take the kick and Palmer palmed the ball away from under the bar.

Aveley were looking dangerous, Davey’s free kick being headed away by Southon for a corner, which was played short to Tuohy whose first time shot was saved by Brightley who had already had more work to do than in the previous three matches combined. It looked ominous when Dixon ran on to a long clearance, but McFarlane calmly broke up the move and cleared upfield to Janney, who turned the ball inside to Cross, and Garry’s shot beat Palmer but went inches wide of the post.

Then it was Glozier pounding up the left and swinging the ball over for Janney to volley, Palmer saving well, whilst at the other end Dobson again found a way past Fletcher and centred, where Davey slid in being the defence but was unable to direct his shot, the ball spiralling high over the bar.

Urchins now stemmed any Aveley threat and began to dominate, Lee sweeping goalwards, to be tackled by Stevens. Back came the ball, across to Parker, whose shot hit Bourgeois and went out for a corner, which Janney took and Stevens headed away for another corner. Janney again, and Aveley survived a loud hand ball appeal right on the goal line, the ball being booted out for a third successive corner by Stevens. Janney again and this time his centre went too far and drifted out, the referee running quickly back out of earshot, with many Urchins offering him advice that hand ball is only allowed if you are a goalkeeper and that otherwise it should be a penalty.

Janney was brought down by Mangodza and Glozier’s free kick was wasted as the ball went straight at the keeper. Aveley briefly threatened, Fletcher having to concede a corner as Dobson homed in onto goal, with Bostock heading away Dobson’s corner as it swerved in dangerously.

An enormous long upfield kick by Brightley saw Palmer forced to save in quick succession from Lee and then Janney, but the ball was promptly played back upfield and headed out for a throw. The throw reached Lee whose hard shot was blocked on the line, and the ball came back to Janney, whose shot was also blocked short of the goal line, and GARRY CROSS followed up to score, sending 200 plus Urchins in the crowd wild with delight.

During stoppage time, Aveley almost pulled off a shock equaliser when Bostock’s clearance was hit straight back against the bar, McFarlane reacting quickest and playing the ball gently out to safety, the ball hitting the washing on the line in the house alongside the car park. There was still time for Urchins to make one more raid, Janney being brought down yet again, this time by Davey, and from his free kick, Parker hit a hard drive goalwards, which Palmer turned around the post, and Glozier’s corner was well held by Palmer as the half time whistle went.

At half time, many Urchins reacted with great sympathy to the news that Canvey had lost 2-0 at home to Tilbury, and – no Billy Drake did not play. However the main talking point was when does a deliberate hand ball not qualify for a penalty – the answer is when the goalkeeper handles, but the hand in question was attached to a blue shirt and was not wearing gloves. During the interval, a home official came round calling out 501 – this turned out to be the winning raffle number. The first prize was not stated, but it was believed to be a microphone. But the real prize was the rarity of a programme – most of us had the coloured blue and white edition, but several Urchins officials were given a black and white edition – when will they appear on ebay?

Surprise substitutions at half time, when Billy Holland came on for Lee, and Dave Sadler came on for his debut, in place of Simon Parker. It was definitely a surprise for the handful of home supporters, as the wrong number was held up and they thought it was Andy who was coming on.

Urchins made a powerful start. Janney winning to ball and crossing to Ross Wareham, who headed downwards, the ball bouncing high, just too high for Cross to connect with. Billy Holland looked to have been brought down inside the area, but the referee allowed play to continue, and then Holland again, this time going down under Davey’s challenge, the ball running out to Janney, whose centre was headed over by Holland, only just back on his feet.

Glozier sent an excellent through ball up to Sadler, who centred, and Cross came in with a diving header which went a fraction wide. A Holland cross was scrambled away, whilst a Janney centre was headed out for a corner by Mangodza, Janney’s own corner, being played too low and cleared easily. Holland was then put away on the right but was fouled and Janney’s free kick was headed out by Strange.

Play settled into a pattern, with Urchins having the better of the play, but with Aveley coming back strongly, to be met by a packed and solid defence. But all to often loose midfield balls were won by the home team, which put unnecessary pressure onto the Urchins defence. Holland won another corner, and Janney’s kick was headed away by Stevens, whilst a low cross from Holland from the right was grabbed by Palmer as Sadler came in at speed.

Sammons came on for Aveley and he looked dangerous on the right with some good runs and crosses. From one of these, the wind caught the ball and Brightley had to back peddle to tip the ball over the bar. On came Greg Tiffin for his Isthmian playing debut, and he took up a midfield role, and he quickly got into the game with a good high ball into the goalmouth where Cross came in to fire in a hard shot which Palmer tipped over. Janney’s corner was cleared by Davey but Southon played the ball promptly back again and Holland took up the running, only to be brought down by Stevens. Janney and Glozier got themselves mixed up with the free kick and it came to nothing. Labinoj Krasniqi came on for Aveley and he looked dangerous with some good runs. But it was Sammons who nearly grabbed a shock equaliser in the second minute of stoppage time, the ball being allowed to drop down, and Dixon nipped in to flick it over Brightley, the ball rolling slowly goalwards, and then being hammered hard out of the ground just short of the line. But it was Urchins with the final threat, Tiffin’s centre eluding everyone and going out of play.

One nil, enough for three points – four wins in a row, when did Urchins ever start the season with four straight wins? As we left the ground, the home official was still calling out 501 – was this the attendance, the raffle prize or the channel number for SkyNews?

Video clips by Rob Monger

- 38mins. Garry Cross scores the winning goal
The post match thoughts of Managing Director Jon Smith
 

  Teams

Aveley Marc Palmer Ricky Dobson Daryl Bourgeois Stuart Strange (c) Bradley Stevens Shayne Mangodza Ebow Mensah Tom Davey Gary Dixon Martin Tuohy Sam Adejokun SUBS Ryan Sammons Daniel Francis Linor Krasniqi Labinoj Krasniqi Bobby Port

- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 * 12 14 15 16 17

AFC Hornchurch Dale Brightley Ronnie Fletcher Danny Glozier Jordan Bostock Jim McFarlane (c) Ross Wareham Garry Cross Mark Janney Kris Lee Simon Parker Jamie Southon SUBS Andy Tomlinson David Sadler Rikki Burbridge Billy Holland Greg Tiffin

Man of the Match Nominated by ...

Weather Conditions:  21 degrees and sunny - wind up to 15mph

Match Duration: First half 46mins 32secs. Second half 49mins 23secs

Match Officials: P Wilson with M Spradberry and R Kelly
 

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