Ryman League Division One North
Saturday 28th April 2007
	AFC Hornchurch	3 - 0	Ilford
Purdie (pen) 53', K Lee 64', S Parker 76'		H/T 0-0 Att:552

Match Highlights

AFC Hornchurch

Ilford

Fiddes - OFF A Parker - ON	35
Purdie (pen) - GOAL	53
K Lee - GOAL	64
	66	OFF - Hussain ON - Houghton
Janney - OFF Sadler - ON Foyewa - OFF Gasper - ON	70	OFF - Carter ON - May
	73	OFF - Harvey ON - Vincent
S Parker - GOAL	76

Match Report by Tony Middleton

This was it – the big one. Could Urchins make it 35 in a row? Would Captain Marvellous score? Who would be player of the year? Bright and sunny, starting line up unchanged from Tuesday, and anticipation all around the ground, a sea of red and white. Urchins kicked towards the windmill end of the ground, where a burst water main had sent the river Ingrebourne into a seething white mass of rapids.

A good start, Tomlinson’s free kick curving goalwards and being headed away by Simmonds. Back to Foyewa, on the right wing, and a short pass to Lee, who flicked on to Parker, whose incredible pace took him clear of the defence, only for keeper Hasler to rush out and save with his feet, and then he repeated the save from the rebound. Ilford were not really in the match as an attacking force, although Hussain found himself with a chance, but hit his first time volley high over the bar. Fletcher took up the running, slotting through to Lee, who turned and opened up the right wing with an excellent touch to Foyewa. Off went Amos, around Gillingham but he put his cross behind the goal. Then Fiddes came in from the left and Alabi did well to tackle, with Lee and Parker waiting in the middle. Ilford came back with a throw in by Chibogu which McFarlane headed away and West followed up with a well placed shot which Brightly saved well.

Ilford were proving hard to break down but were unable to stop Foyewa racing through – eventually Amos was tackled, but illegally and from Tomlinson’s free kick Hasler did well to punch clear. Lee headed over from a Janney centre from the left, and Parker embarked on one of his runs through the middle, before finding Foyewa on the right, with the resulting centre being headed back, and Foyewa hit the ball low back into the middle where Harvey cleared. Parker to Lee, the centre being headed away by Simmonds, and Foyewa returning the ball back into the goalmouth where it was hacked away, as far as Tomlinson who touched back to Fiddes and then on to Lee, who raced in but hit his shot wide of the post.

Fiddes went off with an injury which needed a hospital visit, and Adam Parker came on. Janney, out on the left wing once again, placed a pass ahead of Lee and his goalbound shot was deflected out by Hussain for a corner, which Foyewa took and Hasler caught. Ilford were awarded a free kick a few yards out from the penalty area, and Alabi sent in a ground shot which was deflected out for a corner. Harvey took the kick and Brightly punched away, the ball being played up to Janney, on to Simon Parker, who was tackled as he was about to shoot. Janney sent Foyewa away, and he was fouled, with Tomlinson’s free kick being saved by Hasler. Foyewa to Adam Parker and on to Lee, with Simmonds partially clearing, but only as far as Cross, whose shot was over the bar. Foyewa won a corner and took it himself, finding McFarlane who headed back goalwards, but Chibogu got there first to clear, and in a rare Ilford attack, Gillingham’s cross was touched over the bar by Brightly and Harvey’s corner was cleared by Purdie.

Half time, and Max had to give away the 50-50 jackpot, which stood at £110 – winner was Sir Gary, who was also sponsoring the player of the match. Many who had travelled to Tilbury were still suffering badly from the mosquito stings, but the Urchin who headbutted the concrete steps was alright, having done no lasting damage. Main talking point was whether John Purdie would score his regular goal – he scores one every eleven years and there was only one week to go.

On to the second half, with Urchins stepping up a gear in the hot sunshine. Adam Parker to Foyewa, and Amos won a corner, which he took himself, finding Kris Lee whose header skimmed the post. Janney cut in to the inside left position, homed in on goal, but hit his shot wide. And then it happened. Foyewa went racing down the wing, skimmed a couple of defenders and was then hacked down. Up came Captain Marvellous, JOHN PURDIE, to score his traditional goal, once every eleven years. Fans in the stand jumped to their feet in unison, hats sailed into the air, scarves whirled, the EastSide ululated, and a local reporter, overcome with emotion, ripped his notebook into shreds.

This was it – Urchins unchained, Ilford unable to do anything to stop them. Janney went streaking along the wing, and saw Lee waiting in the middle, but overhit the centre and the ball rolled out of play. Foyewa ran from one side of the pitch to the other, but, chased by three defenders, he could not get in his cross, whilst Kris Lee sped on to Purdie’s pass, with Simmonds just managing to clear. Adam Parker sent Janney away, Janney was fouled and from the free kick, Tomlinson found Cross, Cross to Amos, and the shot was saved by Hasler. Goal number two came when Janney created an opening for Simon Parker, who ran on, was partially tripped, but recovered to cross the ball, which was returned back to him, the second centre being neatly netted by KRIS LEE, giving him 29 goals for the season, 22 of which were in the league.

Time for substitutions all round , Sadler and Gasper replacing Janney and Foyewa, to the visitors’ obvious relief. But relief turned to alarm when Sadler was sent clear, only to be pulled up for offside. Sadler again, this time seeing his cross gathered by Hasler. But with the pressure mounting, it was Kris Lee who started the move which led to the third goal, with a good pass to Adam Parker, who in turn found Simon Parker, whose goalward shot was turned out for a corner. Gasper came up to take the kick, the ball was played across goal, Lee headed it back, and SIMON PARKER netted, for goal number 28, of which 22 were in the league.

Urchins continued to press, but eased off a fraction, and were not able to increase their tally. Purdie sent Lee away, and Simon Parker looked to be adding the fourth, only for keeper Hasler to run out and gather at the edge of the area. Sadler to Simon Parker, and a short touch on to Lee, whose low shot brought the save of the match from Hasler. From the corner, taken by Gasper, McFarlane headed over, and in the final minute, the referee having failed to add anything like the correct amount of stoppage time on in either half, Lee made an excellent pass to Sadler, right in front of goal, but Sadler’s shot was lofted inches over the bar.

Season over, 35 in a row, crowds up, enthusiasm at an all time high, time for the awards – Player of the match was John Purdie, Player of the year Jim McFarlane, young player of the year, Danny Glozier, and a special award to Mark Janney for this FA Cup goals – and team of the year? The Urchins of course.

Video clips by Rob Monger
- 53mins. John Purdie with his first goal in nearly 11 years
- 64mins. Kris Lee gets the second
- 76mins. Simon Parker scores the third
Post match interview with manager Colin McBride

  Teams

AFC Hornchurch Dale Brightly Ron Fletcher Alex Fiddes John Purdie (c) Jim McFarlane Amos Foyewa Garry Cross Mark Janney Kris Lee Simon Parker Andy Tomlinson SUBS Adam Parker Dave Sadler Ainsley Gasper Elliot Styles Ryan Lee

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

Ilford Charlie Hasler Isaac Alabi Matthew Gillingham Glen Harvey Ricky Simmonds Abdul Hussain Edmond Chibogu (c) Matty West Roy Jones Sam Carter Bradley Jones SUBS Stuart Houghton John May Danny Alleyne Danny Vincent Carl Bailey

Man of the Match Nominated by ... John Purdie

Weather Conditions:  23 degrees and sunny. Wind speed zero.

Match Officials: S Lewis with N Baker and S Hughes

Match duration: First half 46mins 11secs. Second half 46mins 36secs
 

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