HORNCHURCH 4 WHYTELEAFE 0
No Billy Coyne, injured on Saturday in a tackle for which a Whyteleafe player was red carded. Ronnie Fletcher in at full back, with Mark Janney coming into the starting line up for Michael Spencer.

Urchins kicked towards the windmill end and could have taken an early lead when Paul Shave’s cross from the right almost found Wayne Gray, Rhys Coleman getting to the ball just in time. A long throw from Ronnie Fletcher fell nicely for Jo Flack, whose shot was charged down, and a Jamie Dormer shot was deflected for a corner, which Jonathan Hunt floated across, and Elliot Styles headed over. Leafe were rarely in the match as an attacking force, though they did look dangerous when ex-Urchin Steffan Ball made ground on the right and crossed, and Fletcher had to head out for a corner, which Ball took, and Darren Behcet saved comfortably.

Shave went close with a header from Mark Janney’s centre, and then Urchins were awarded a free kick about 30 yards out and to the left of the goal. JONATHAN HUNT calmly waited for the wall to get in place and then hammered his shot over the wall, and under the bar for the first goal. Leafe briefly rallied, when Scott flicked Butler’s free kick wide of the post, but for the most part Leafe were forced to concentrate on defence.

Andy Tomlinson put over a good cross which was turned out for a corner. Hunt sent the ball over and Dormer headed it back goalwards into the path of Jo Flack, who crashed the ball into the net, but the goal was disallowed. Goodfellow then sent Janney away and Mark’s cross was cleared by Dilley. Leafe had to withstand constant pressure, and went further behind just before half time when Jo Flack made an opening on the left and played the ball low into the middle for PAUL SHAVE to finish off.

It looked to be three within seconds of the second half when Jo Flack lobbed he keeper, but the goal was disallowed. Flack almost scored a minute later with a hard drive which skimmed the post, and at the other end a Scott free kick was turned around the post by Darren Behcet for a corner. Behcet then held a low cross from Sam Butler, but Urchins stormed back and Jo Flack’s run in from the right won him a corner. Jonathan Hunt ran over to take the kick and was promptly booked – whatever for, only the referee knows – and Hunt then sent over an inswinging corner, which Wayne Gray headed goalwards and the ball was cleared off the line for a corner on the left. Hunt came over to take the corner, played the ball short to Mark Janney, and Mark’s low cross into the goalmouth was touched home by Urchins own demon, PAUL SHAVE.

A Flack shot was touched around the post by Dilley, and Hunt’s corner was cleared by Goodchild. Shave almost scored his third, when he headed narrowly over from Hunt’s free kick. Leafe then won a corner on the left, but Goodfellow cleared. Leafe came back, and Daryl Coleman, sent off in the first match, and already on a yellow card, could easily have been given a second yellow for a late challenge right in front of the referee, but he turned it into a straight red by then appearing to follow through.

A Janney cross led to a corner, which Hunt took, and Styles just failed to reach the ball as it came over, and Ben Boyce, Michael Spencer and Mitchell Stuart-Evans all came on. Jo Flack sent an excellent ball ahead of Wayne Gray, who appeared to be pulled back as he raced goalwards, but he still carried on and fired his shot just over the bar. But why no red card as Wayne was through and was blatantly held back?

Leafe thought they had scored when a free kick was headed goalwards from just a few yards out, but Darren Behcet twisted to grab the ball on the line, and he promptly played it to Michael Spencer, who quickly placed the ball ahead of Jo Flack, and his goal bound shot was turned around the post by Dilley. Andy Tomlinson took the corner and WAYNE GRAY glanced the ball home for the fourth goal, to give Urchins a comfortable win.