HORNCHURCH 2 BRENTWOOD 1

Brentwood took the game to Hornchurch in the first minute when they swept upfield and George Lay’s goalbound shot was blocked by Michael Spencer, and this proved to be the only time that the visitors threatened in the first half. Hornchurch settled and Jonathan Hunt played a short side pass to Billy Coyne, who played it through to Jo Flack. Jo crossed into the middle and Wayne Gray’s header seemed to be going into the net until it was diverted around the post by Donovan Wilson. Hunt’s corner found Paul Shave, whose downward header bounced up and just wide of the post.

Jo Flack then took a long pass from defence and turned sharply inside of two defenders and his shot was blocked by James Love. Hornchurch continued to force the pace and Hunt played a long pass across to Gray, whose cross was headed out for a corner by Wilson. Hunt took the kick, and Joe Stevens hit his shot high over the bar. Billy Coyne almost put Gray through but Sam West did well to cover quickly. In a rare Brentwood attack John Purdie intercepted a long pass from Love that was intended for Patric Elbi. A Stevens centre was turned out for a corner, but Hunt’s kick was cleared by Parmenter.

Flack then brought down a difficult bouncing ball, which he turned out to Hunt, who played it back to Gray and thence out to Elliot Styles, whose centre was headed out by Good for a corner. Hunt took the kick, and Styles headed just over the bar. Hunt again picked out Flack and Gray was put clear on the left. He touched the ball back to Joe Stevens whose shot forced Ronnie Worster into making an excellent save. A Wayne Gray run and cross found Jonathan Hunt, whose shot was well saved by Worster. Ronnie Fletcher then pulled up after putting a long pass up the left wing and he was replaced by Andy Tomlinson, and just when it began to look as if Brentwood would hold out, Urchins took the lead. Flack played a pass out to Hunt, and he ran down the right and crossed low into the goalmouth for JO FLACK to touch home for a goal on his debut appearance. Urchins almost had another just before half time when Flack played the ball through to Gray, whose first time shot was blocked by Good.

What could have been a comfortable stroll almost turned into a nightmare when Brentwood levelled shortly after half time. Elbi made a good run but his cross was going nowhere, until ELLIOT STYLES turned the ball into his own net. Brentwood stormed back upfield and won a corner, but before it could be taken Jo Flack limped off to be replaced by Ben Boyce. For a few more minutes the visitors continued to press but slowly Hornchurch regained control. Gray sent Boyce away and he appeared to be pulled down inside the area, but play was allowed to continue, and then Billy Coyne needed lengthy treatment after being the victim of a very late tackle by George Lay, who was fortunate to escape with just a yellow card.

A long throw by Billy Coyne led to a corner, and Hunt found Styles, who headed over the bar. A minute later another long Coyne throw was played back by Stevens to Tomlinson who touched sideways to Paul Shave,, whose shot was diverted around the post for another corner. Hunt again found Styles, who again headed over the bar. Wayne Gray then chased a long ball down the wing and won a corner. Hunt floated the ball over and Styles headed on to PAUL SHAVE who calmly headed the ball over the line amidst a crowd of defenders.

Two one and it looked comfortable. Ben Boyce made a rapid run along the left and turned the ball in to Stevens, who returned the ball to Boyce, who moved into the middle and twisted quickly to fire in an excellent shot, which Worster saved at full length, the ball going out to Kris Lee, whose follow up shot was again saved well by Worster. With Hornchurch seemingly home and dry, Brentwood almost levelled in the fourth minute of stoppage time when Ide Okojie crossed the ball from the right and George Lays’ header was saved on the line by Darren Behcet, who otherwise had very little to do.