MARGATE  0  HORNCHURCH  0

A sunny day in almost heatwave conditions, tide fully out and much of the sea front boarded up, only a few people wandering along the promenade, none of whom were Hornchurch supporters, as the coach had been held up for over an hour at the Dartford bridge. Large flocks of gulls on the front, and numerous flocks over the ground, not of gulls, but wood pigeons. The Urchins following made it in time for the start, though many objected strongly to being asked to pay £2 to sit in the tatty rows of seating along the side of the three sided ground.

Hornchurch started well, when Darren Behcet pumped a long ball deep up field, where Grey flicked it on to Leon Antoine who raced past keeper Luke Kiteley out on the left side, but he was unable to screw the ball back into the middle and it ran out for a goal kick. Margate kicked towards what was at one time the Dreamland end of the ground – Dreamland is now a derelict wasteland – and a long throw into the middle was headed on by Healy to Cliff whose shot was deflected by Donny Barnard for a corner. Wilson took the kick, and Jonathan Hunt, making his Hornchurch debut, neatly intercepted and sent a perfect pass up to Michael Ramkin, who played it quickly on to Leon Antoine, but Lacey managed to get across to tackle.

Hunt again, totally in command in midfield, on to Ramkin, whose cross was turned out for a corner. Hunt took the kick and Ronnie Fletcher’s header was blocked by Lewis. Hunt once again, this time finding Grey up front, and keeper Kiteley raced out to kick wildly clear. Michael Spencer made ground and centred, and Ramkin’s first time shot was saved well by Kiteley who turned the ball around the post. Hunt’s corner was headed away by Keister. Urchins won a free kick and Hunt neatly sidefooted the ball to Andy Tomlinson, but Andy mishit the ball and it went wide of the goal.

Margate came back when Blackman raced away and Elliot Styles tackled to concede a corner. Healy sent over an inswinger and Behcet did well to hold on to the ball under pressure. Another free kick to Urchins, and this time Hunt had the ball quickly played back to him, and he pumped it deep into the goalmouth where Ramkin followed up but saw his shot go wide of the post. Blackman again broke clear for Margate and again it was Styles who tackled to concede the corner. Healy floated the ball over and Leon Antoine cleared up field, finding Hunt who flicked the ball over his head into the path of Grey who raced past Kiteley but could not prevent the ball from going out of play for a goal kick.

Urchins looked dominant but this changed just before half time when Hunt played a long ball to Ramkin who was felled by a heavy challenge from Keister. A free kick was awarded, but Ramkin had to be replaced by Mark Janney, whilst Keister was very fortunate to receive just a yellow card, when a red was unanimously called for by the massed away following behind the goal.

Margate started the second half with a corner which was taken as usual by Healy and headed away by Goodfellow, who then found Grey with a good pass, and Haverson conceded a free kick. Hunt took the kick, floated the ball over and Grey headed the ball inches wide of the post, when it looked certain to go into the net. And a minute later Grey beat Lewis to a loose ball and was promptly brought down. Hunt’s free kick found Elliot Styles, whose header went inches wide of the far post, when it again looked certain to end up in the net.

Margate then were awarded a penalty, when Blackman made ground and then appeared to lose control of the ball and fell over. Not a decision which went down well with either the team or the away following, but it was Lloyd Blackman who eventually stepped up, once the referee had restored order, and, to the delight of the hundred away supporters who turned out, the ball crashed against the underside of the bar and rebounded clear – justice was not only done, but was seen to be done.

Joe Stevens came on for Mark Goodfellow, who was limping after several challenges, but it was Margate who came back when Wilson crossed and Fletcher headed out for a corner. Healy sent the ball over, and the whistle went long before Ben Lewis’ header hit the back of the net. Margate briefly continued to press, and Lewis played a long ball up to Blackman, who tried a 40 yard lobbed shot, which went over the bar.

 Joe Stevens out on the left almost found Grey with a good centre but Kiteley gathered, and Mark Janney almost put Antoine through only for Lewis to intercept well. Stevens put a lobbed centre onto the roof of the net, and a minute later Blackman did almost a carbon copy at the other end. Langiano did well to send a good pass on to Wilson whose cross found Lombardo, who headed over the bar. A Stevens run on the left opened up the home defence, and Joe took a return pass from Paul Shave but Kiteley held on to the dipping centre. A long run on the other wing by Donny Barnard saw the ball crossed into the goalmouth where Paul Shave was just inches wide with his header. As Urchins piled on the pressure, a Hunt corner was played short to Janney who crossed for Joe Stevens, and for the fourth time in the match the ball went just inches wide.

A point won? No, two points lost, as Urchins had done more than enough to have won comfortably.