HORNCHURCH 3 HORSHAM 0
Heatwave conditions – sun hammering down – overhead a flash of red black and white as a greater spotted woodpecker flew across. On the roof of the social club, a coal tit, blue tits singing in the trees, and great tits in abundance. A flock of mixed redwing and fieldfare flew back to their northern habitat. The peace was broken when the Urchins took the field to a thunderous roar, which sent the heron soaring.

And the masses on the East Side were treated to ninety minutes of spectacular football as the Urchins stormed into the play off positions. Dean Green began the onslaught with a run along the right wing, which ended with Eldridge conceding a corner. Andy Tomlinson floated the ball over, Jim McFarlane left it for Simon Parker whose header narrowly missed the far post. Parker on to Mark Janney, and this time it was Haddon who steered the cross out for a corner. Tomlinson this time picked out Green whose header skimmed the bar. A brief rally by the visitors ended when John Purdie intercepted an Eldridge centre. Frank Curley, playing further upfield than normal, sent a good pass across to Elliot Styles, and thence on to Simon Parker who ran through and fired his shot inches over the bar.

The one way traffic towards the windmill end was halted momentarily when Haddon found the overlapping Eldridge whose centre was touched away by Darren Behcet, and Billy Coyne played the ball out for a corner. Eldridge went across to take the kick and McFarlane headed away. A quick free kick by Mark Goodfellow found Parker, who slotted the ball on to Janney, whose dipping cross was cleared off the line by Pea roux. Elliot Styles followed up and his goal bound shot was blocked by a defender. The first goal followed when Billy Coyne took one of his characteristic long throws, which caused havoc in the defence. McFarlane dummied and the ball bounced on to SIMON PARKER, who calmly hit it into the net. One nil and looking good.

But things changed in the space of less than a minute when Dean Green had to go off after briefly receiving treatment. Kris Lee came on and 41 seconds later raced down the left wing, and went down clutching his ankle, and was stretchered off. Ross Wall came on, and with Urchins collecting themselves together after the double substitution, Behcet cleared a corner from Eldridge, and the ball was played out to Ross Wall, and through to Mark Janney who sped goalwards and was scythed down inside the area, for what appeared a certain penalty and red card – instead a goal kick was given, with the East Side showing their collective displeasure. Urchins came forward again, Parker to Wall and Ross had his shot charged down.

Half time and the club shop was packed as hundreds swooped to pick up some end of season bargains – rattles free, mugs just £1, scarves reduced, strip at give away prices, and tea served in real mugs.

The second half was even more one sided than the first, as the sun increased in intensity, sending temperatures towards the nineties. Parker won a corner in the first few seconds, and Tomlinson’s kick was punched away for another corner, and the ball came over dipping goalwards. Simon Parker flicked it on and it hit the post and was then cleared off the line. Billy Coyne took another long throw and Tolfrey managed to punch clear, and another long throw was palmed out only as far as Tomlinson who crashed his shot inches over the bar from way outside the area. The second goal soon followed, when Tomlinson held up proceedings on the left and then crossed into the area where Ross Wall saw his shot blocked, and the ball rebounded to Ross, whose follow up was blocked and FRANKIE CURLEY followed up to net.

Horsham had a half chance when McFarlane headed Eldridge’s free kick away and Haddon crashed his shot over the bar, narrowly missing a passing little egret. Back to the other end where Parker headed on Tomlinson’s free kick and Peauroux deflected the ball out for a corner. Tomlinson’s kick was caught by Tolfrey, who was stranded a minute later when a Curley shot skimmed the post. A Styles pass to Parker nearly led to a goal but Tolfrey rushed out and the ball hit his legs and rebounded out. Horsham almost scored a shock goal when Behcet lost a high free kick in the sun but McFarlane calmly headed off the line.

Ross Wall was denied by a Nagnus tackle and the ball ran out to Janney whose shot was saved by Tolfrey. A hard Tomlinson free kick was touched out for a corner and Curley go onto the end of Andy’s kick to head narrowly wide. The third goal came when Parker and Janney opened up the defence and Janney centred for FRANK CURLEY to head home, colliding with the keeper as he did so. Rob Tolfrey was taken off and Anthony Acheampong went in goal, and was called into action to save a goalbound header from player of the match Frank Curley.

At the end the Urchins left the field to a prolonged ovation, and already over 200 have expressed their intention of going to the final match of the season at Sutton next week.