Report

NORWICH UTD 0 HORNCHURCH 1

NU – Jake Hallett, Steve Shipley, Matt Brown, Lee Mason (Emmanuel Machaya 77), Andy Eastaugh, Sam Watts, Adam Hipperson, Shaun Wones, Liam Jackson, Tim Henery, Cameron Norman
Subs – Severin Mokaka, Kierron Rose, joe Jackson, Angus Mackie

HFC – Sam Mott, Will King, JJ Da Cruz, Elliot Styles, Nathan Cooper, Jed Chouman, Abs Thompson (Jamie Hursit 86), Dave Collis, Leon Mackenzie, David Knight (Jakub Berkowitx 82),, Ayrton Coley
Subs – Jamie Hursit, Jakub Berkowitz, Ousmana Kone

Scorer – David Knight 62
Bookings – Styles 44 (H) – Thompson 57 (H) – Hipperson 74 (NU) – Da Cruz 90 (H) – Mott 90 (H)
Attendance 137

Hornchurch, already without George Purcell and Alex Bentley, took the field lacking James Morrish and Paul Goodacre.

On the plus side, both Dave Collis and David Knight were able to take their places in the starting line up, but manager Jim MacFarlane was only able to name three substitutes.

In a quiet first half, the only incident of note was the booking of Elliot Styles shortly before half time.

It was Knight who almost opened the scoring with an excellent volley a minute after the interval, the ball going just wide of the post.

Abs Thompson became the second player to go into the book in the 57th minute.

On 62 minutes Hornchurch won a corner. Dave Collis sent the ball into the middle, and David Knight was ideally placed to fire the ball firmly into the net, to the delight of the small band of Hornchurch supporters who madelengthy midweek journey.

Ten minutes later, Knight was brought down inside the area, but the penalty appeals were waved aside and play continued.

Hornchurch now looked likely to increase their lead, and Jake Hallett, on loan from Norwich City, made a good save from an Ayrton Coley shot.

Emmanuel Machaya came on for Lee Mason, but a minute later it was Hallett again who kept the home team in with a chance, when he made another good save, this time from Knight, after Abs Thompson had opened up the home defence to put over a well-flighted cross.

It was then the turn of Elliot Styles to go close, with a header from a Dave Collis corner.

On 81 minutes Jakub Berkowitz replaced David Knight.

Hornchurch were not here to defend, however, and two minutes later Thompson again opened up the home defence, and pulled the ball back to Leon Mackenzie, who was denied by the in-form Hallett.

Jim MacFarlane sent on Jamie Hursit in place of Thompson, but it was the other substitute, Jakub Berkowitz, who almost added a second goal, with a fine shot, which was a fraction too high, and over the bar.

In the final minute of normal time Dave Collis sent over a free kick to Mackenzie, but his header was wide of the target.

In the 90th minute Dave Collis became the third Hornchurch player to go into the book, and he was followed by Sam Mott seconds later.

But there was no coming back for Norwich Utd, and Hornchurch deservedly took the three points on offer, with the home side very grateful to their on-loan goalkeeper for keeping the score down.

Hornchurch now move into eighth place in the league table, on 19 points.

With thanks to Andy Dickinson and Ray Stainer.