HORNCHURCH 3 TONBRIDGE 0
Dale Brightly back in goal after his suspension, and Donny Barnard having his first start of the season, whilst Raphael Sylvester, who last season played for Leyton Orient and Harlow Town, is in the squad for the first time.

Urchins played towards the restaurant end of the ground in the first half, and began well, when Tomlinson slipped a good pass out to Kris Lee on the left, but the low cross went begging across the goalmouth. Urchins continued to press and took the lead on six minutes when Tomlinson’s well flighted corner was headed home by ELLIOT STYLES. Tonbridge got more into the match and began to move forward, but wasted two opportunities inside a minute when first Jamie Cade and then Tommy Tyne hammered long range shots high over the bar. Elliot needed lengthy treatment following what appeared to be a bad tackle, although the referee took no acton. Tonbridge had a much better chance shortly afterwards when Cade opened up the left side with a long pass out to Kirk Watts who sent the ball over and deep into the goalmouth. Rook swooped in behind the defence and volleyed the ball inches wide of the post. Urchins came back and Kris Lee made a good run to win a corner, which Andy Tomlinson sent over and Styles went close with a well placed header.

Tonbridge again looked dangerous when they won a corner on the left and the ball dropped in front of Cade, whose hard shot was deflected over the bar by Dale Brightly for another corner. This time the ball was played back out to Logan, whose centre was headed away by Mark Goodfellow. Back down the field and Kris Lee’s shot appeared to be touched out for a corner, although a goal kick was awarded instead. Tonbridge continued to threaten with some rapid runs down the wing and Donny Barnard had to head out for a corner when Logan sent over a centre which was heading goalwards. Barnard then took a pass from Purdie and set off along the wing, but his centre was cut out by Lewis Hamilton, who motored down the right, showing rapid acceleration, and crossed well for Cade, whose shot was parried by Brightly, with Purdie completing the clearance. Lewis Hamilton again, showing a great turn of speed, racing down the right, but then slipping on the wet turf and sending the ball spinning off behind the goal. Tonbridge pressed strongly, and won another corner, which Goodfellow dealt with, and a long range attempt by Anthony Storey sailed high over the bar.

Tonbridge began the second half with a move on the right, and Lewis Hamilton’s high centre was headed out for a corner by Donny Barnard. It was Donny who cleared the corner and played the ball up to Kris Lee, who set out on an amazing run through the middle, with Lee Worgan doing well to save the goal bound shot. The ball was promptly played back to Dean Green, who was tripped as he ran past Tyne and Legge. MARK JANNEY stepped up to take the penalty, Worgan got a hand to the ball, but could only touch it onto the post, and thence into the net. Two nil and Urchins began to dominate, but play was held up for some time following an incident on the River Side involving most of the players and all three officials. After long discussion, the referee took no action, and no one was booked, to the disgust of the EastSide, who were confidently anticipating at least one red card. Tonbridge, whose tactics made a mockery of their Angels nickname, won another corner, which Barnard comfortably cleared and the ball was switched out to the left where Lee Brown’s cross was deflected out by Tyne for a corner. Tomlinson flighted the ball over for Kris Lee whose shot was turned around the post by Legge for another corner, and this time it was keeper Worgan who held Tomlinson’s inswinger under the bar. A good run by Logan was thwarted by Barnard, the ball running loose to Tyne whose shot was blocked by Frank Curley. Storey was perhaps fortunate to escape without a card soon after, as the referee began to dish out numerous free kicks. Dean Green won one of the many free kicks when he was pulled down, and Tomlinson’s well placed shot was held under the bar by Worgan.

An excellent solo run by Glover, who had dispossessed Kris Lee on the half way line, saw Dale Brightly make a good save, and Dale promptly took advantage of the gap left in defence by pumping the ball up field, and it ran on to KRIS LEE who took full advantage with a quick turn and a powerful shot which screamed into the net for the third goal. A Barnard free kick was headed out for a corner by Hamilton, and this led to another corner, which was held up as Lee Hodges came on for Mark Janney, and Hodges took the corner, and picked out Frank Curley whose first time shot skimmed the post. Hodges then went close with a fine shot following a long solo run through the middle, and Ross Wall and Raphael Sylvester then came on for the final few minutes, with Sylvester immediately linking up with Dean Green to open up the visiting defence before Legge cleared.

Three nil, and everyone is now looking far more confident.