FA Trophy Preliminary Round
Saturday 7th October 2006
	AFC Hornchurch	2 - 1	Fleet Town
Lee 18', Janney 25' (pen)		H/T 2-1 Att:464	Hale 34'

Match Highlights

AFC Hornchurch

Fleet Town

Lee - GOAL	18
Janney (pen) - GOAL	25
	34	GOAL - Hale
	63	OFF - Smith ON - Smart
	70	BOOKED - John
McFarlane - OFF Fletcher - ON	76
Wareham - OFF Tiffin - ON	78
	79	BOOKED - Hamilton
S Parker - OFF Gasper - ON	90+4

Match Report by Tony Middleton

The only change from last Satruday’s starting line up was Jordon coming in for Ron Fletcher, who passed a late fitness test and was able to take his place in the squad. With almost no away support, the gate of 464 was all the more noteworthy, though never have a team come to Bridge Avenue with as many club officials as Fleet brought with them.

Urchins made a slow start and it was quickly apparent that the visitors were a well drilled and methodical side, and a free kick by Field was headed away by McFarlane who outjumped the leaping Salmon to win the ball. Urchins came forward, Wareham laying a pass out to Parker on the left and although Janney got onto the end of the cross, he was crowded out before he could get a shot in. a similar move soon afterwards ended in a goal kick when Parker’s cross went behind. Douglas created some space for Salmon at the other end and his shot was turned out for a corner, taken by Field, and headed out by McFarlane. The best chance so far fell to Lee who ran on to a pass from Parker following good work by Southon, but Lee’s finish was poor, the shot lacking in power and Smith saved. Next it was Bostock, playing the ball out to Cross, and thence up to Lee whose ran on and his hard dipping shot skimmed the bar.

Urchins were in command and the opening goal soon followed, thanks to some excellent interplay between Parker, Cross and Janney, with Mark’s centre being headed home by KRIS LEE, with Ross Wareham making sure the ball was over the line. Fleet quickly came back, Salmon leaping high to head over from Field’s corner, but from the goal kick Lee played a great pass to Parker, and Smith had to rush out of goal to save. Cross, magnificent in midfield, then touched a short pass back to Bostock, having his best game ever for the Urchins, and from his upfield pass Parker ran clear but was pulled back for offside. A second goal followed when Janney took a shot corner on the left and Southon was fouled. Up stepped MARK JANNEY to score from the penalty. Two nil. Everyone happy.

There has always to be a first time – we’ve had balls up in the tree, balls in the river, balls in the neighbouring gardens, even a ball hitting the restaurant, but never before has a ball cleared the trees, cleared the river, over a house, bounced on the roof of the next house, and then disappeared in the distance, heading towards the railway. Congratulations to the Fleet defender who managed this feat. A Field free kick was headed away by Purdie for a corner, and Field took the kick, and an unmarked Hemmings headed over the bar. Glozier out to Wareham, and the visiting keeper completely misjudged what appeared to be a simple cross and dropped the ball out for a corner, and then the keeper flapped at Janney’s corner, and McFarlane just failed to reach the ball.

Urchins were coasting, and looked good for more goals, until poor marking in the area allowed SHAUN HALE to head home from Field’s corner. This was the first time Fleet had looked dangerous up front, but Urchins retaliated straight away, Southon finding Janney, whose cross was too long and the ball drifted out of play. Then it was John running through and Cross came back to save the day with an excellent tackle, and then Cross sent the ball down to the other end where Wareham won a corner. Janney floated the ball over and Cross played it back into the middle where Wareham homed in but hit his shot over the bar.

Half time and it was looking good, but could have been better without that one defensive lapse. A review of the video replay of the first goal confirmed that it was Kris Lee’s goal, whilst visiting officials had some big decisions to make – should they stop at Clackett Lane or Fleet Services on the way back? One happy Urchins walked off – almost ran off in fact – with the £100 jackpot, and everyone was happy, especially shop manager Tony who was doing a roaring trade in souvenirs and insults, the latter being free of charge as per usual.

Second half and Urchins were in command, but could have done with another goal to be even more in charge. And it almost happened when Danny Glozier raced down the left, cut inside, and hammered the ball low into the middle, where Kris Lee was caught by surprise and could only stab at the ball, which skimmed the wrong side of the post. Field hit a corner far too long and the ball went out of play, and then it was a prolonged Urchins assault. Glozier turned and found Parker, Simon to Janney and the cross was headed out from almost under the bar by Hale, Janney’s corner then being headed away by Peterson. Bostock, enjoying himself on the riverside, played a long upfield pass to Lee, who found Janney, but Mark was crowded out and could not get the ball over into the middle, and instead tried a shot from a narrow angle which Smith did well to save.

The best move so far involved Cross, Bostock, Parker and Janney, with Cross twisting inside his marker and chipping the ball inches over the bar. A miskick from keeper Smith found Janney in possession and he played the ball straight back to Parker , and then in to Lee who was stopped by a good tackle from Hemmings. On came Nathan Smart as substitute and he made a good start with a solo run before finding Douglas and his hard shot was touched out for a corner by Brightley, the corner being played back to Douglas and Brightley saved again. Parker then made a good interception and prodded the ball to Lee on the half way line. Lee ran on, and hit a hard shot just over the bar. As frustration set in, John was booked and Hamilton was fortunate to escape without a card when he appeared to exchange jollarities with one of the East Side. However it was the substitute who made the most impact, when Jim McFarlane was left motionless on the ground near the half way line, blood pouring from a head wound where he appeared to have nutted the sub’s elbow as he went up to head the ball away. Referee and linesman were both within yards of the incident, and the East Side were loudly calling for the red card as the referee finally slowly approached the innocent looking Smart – and sent him off to change his shirt, which was liberally covered with blood. Six minutes later a very dazed McFarlane was helped off, with Jim not being at all receptive when Smart came over and said something, and Urchins had lost their anchor at the back. Ron Fletcher came on to play in the middle, and then Greg Tiffin came on for Wareham to add some more strength in defence.

But Greg was not thinking of defence, his first touch coming after an upfield left wing sortie when he found Cross whose shot was deflected out for a corner. Janney sent in a swerving high ball close to goal and Smith did well to hold the ball. Parker then to Tiffin and his low cross was scrambled away. Hamilton was then booked when he again appeared to want to discuss proceedings with a prominent member of the east side. And then a Parker pass to Janney saw the ball hammered out, the corner post being decapitated in the process. Was this the last post for Fleet? Repairs made, post reinserted, but looking decidedly worst for wear, came back Fleet, when John made a long penetrating run and won a corner which Field took and Fletcher cleared. Were Urchins defence minded? Not at all, for on comes Ainsley Gasper and he twice played excellent balls out to first Tiffin and then Janney. Nine minutes and more were added on, and although Fleet tried desperately they never really looked like drawing level, their best effort being a free kick by Douglas which went well over the bar.

Urchins were through, and deservedly so, the only down side to an excellent match being the elbow incident. Harrow are next.

Video clips by Rob Monger
- 18mins. Kris Lee puts us in front
- 25mins. Our second goal comes from a Mark Janney penalty
- 34mins. Shaun Hale pulls a goal back for Fleet Town
- Post match interview with Fleet Town manager Andy Sinton
- Post match interview with Colin McBride
 

 

  Teams

AFC Hornchurch Dale Brightley Jordan Bostock Danny Glozier John Purdie (c) Jim McFarlane Ross Wareham Garry Cross Mark Janney Kris Lee Simon Parker Jamie Southon SUBS Andy Tomlinson Elliott Styles Greg Tiffin Ainsley Gasper Ronnie Fletcher

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

Fleet Town Paul Smith Ian Griffin Shaun Hale Phillip John Mark Paterson (c) Steve Hemmings James Field Michael Douglas William Salmon Jermaine Hamilton Eddie Smith SUBS James Mann Justin Gray Tony Millerick Elliot Capel Nathan Smart

Man of the Match Nominated by Sir Garry Hall Jim McFarlane

Weather Conditions:  16 degrees and sunny. Wind speed 15mph

Match Officials: S Butler with G Ions and S Finnigan

Match duration: First half 46mins 36secs. Second half 54mins 21secs
 

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