Tuesday 20th November 2007 – LC
HORNCHURCH  3  TILBURY  0
HFC – Dale Brightley – Donny Barnard – Elliot Styles - Jordan Bostock – Richard Goddard © - Richard Halle – Steve Wales - Mark Janney - Kris Lee – Simon Parker -
Andy Tomlinson
Subs – Harry Elmes for Kris Lee 54 – Shane Oakley – Amos Foyewa for Mark Janney 73 – Danny Glozier for Donny Barnard 34 – Joe Keith

T – Paul Agu – Danny Smith - Sam Holloway –Marc Clarey - Jay Taylor © – Nathan Philip – Lee Springer - Danny O’Connor – Kurt Smith – Erkan Yusuk –Luke Stanley
Subs – John Hefford for Sam Holloway 68 – Olagunju Olatunde – Shamrez Darr – Lloyd Anthony for Danny O’Connor 68– Andre Humphrey for Lee Springer 59

Scorers – Simon Parker 33, 56 – Richard Halle 50
Bookings – Richard Goddard 33 (H) – Marc Clarey 62 (T) - Sam Holloway 65 (T) – Luke Stanley 90+3 (T)
Officials – S Rubery with T Goddard and T Brooks
Duration – 48.14 + 48.37
Weather – 8 degrees, rain and misty, wind speed 10 mph first half reducing to 5 mph second half.
Attendance 182

HORNCHURCH  3  TILBURY  0
A return for Richard Goddard after injury, and a very wet night, pitch soft, raining and misty. And the same referee as last week – and one who is running the line for the forthcoming Wigan v Arsenal match. The incessant rain which had poured down most of the day however affected the attendance, with no Tilbury supporters making the trip, presumably thinking the match was in doubt.

Urchins kicked towards the windmill end in the first half, and looked far sharper than last week. Tilbury won the first corner of the match, Richard Goodard heading away, which in turn started up an Urchins move, with Donny Barnard passing upfield to Janney, who touched on to Wales, and then on again quickly to Kris Lee out on the left. Kris cut inside and hit in a low shot which appeared to be going into the net, only for the ball to miss by inches. Simon Parker, with new style haircut and sans barbe, sent a good pass out to Janney, and back inside to Wales, whose first time cross into the middle found no one able to get onto the ball which ran out of play. A rare Tilbury break saw a free kick awarded 30 yards out, and Holloway stepped up to hammer in a shot which Brightley did well to save, a succession of free kicks were awarded and one, taken by Steve Wales almost on the half way line, found Richard Halle whose glancing header was narrowly wide of the post.

Wales dominated the midfield, and his long through to Kris Lee created danger, forcing keeper Agu to rush out of his area to kick clear, and to concede a free kick, which Wales took, the ball being touched onto the bar by Agu and going over. From the corner Agu did well to punch away. Back came the Urchins, another free kick, Wales again, when Clarey was perhaps fortunate to escape with a long lecture, saw Agu make a good save.

Eventually the prolonged pressure brought a goal, though it all started from a Tilbury corner, which resulted in a booking for Richard Goddard. Dale Brightley caught the ball as it swung in, and his long kick upfield found SIMON PARKER who neatly lobbed keeper Agu. A minute later Donny Barnard, who was carrying an injury received early on, was replaced by Danny Glozier, with Jordan Bostock switching back to the right. Styles to Glozier, and Wales raced in onto the cross, his run ending when Taylor tackled to concede a corner. At the other end, a Tilbury won a corner, Styles clearing, but the ball was played back to Stanley, who made a penetrating run down the right and his shot went just wide of the post. Almost on half time, a long Bostock clearance found Parker clear, but he was pulled back for offside.

Second half, and Urchins soon went further ahead, Mark Janney finding RICHARD HALLE, whose first time drive spun off of keeper Agu and into the net. Tilbury almost pulled a goal back when Springer nipped in between Goddard and Brightley to crack his shot only inches past the post, but the third goal soon followed, a long kick by Brightley being headed on by Harry Elmes, to SIMON PARKER, who once again neatly lobbed the keeper. Three nil and it could easily have been four when Steve Wales hard shot skimmed off the keeper for a corner, which Janney sent over and in the ensuing scramble, the ball was twice kicked off the line. At the other end, Yusuf broke clear and Brightley saved, turning the ball out for a corner. Urchins attacked incessantly, Janney playing a good pass up to Parker, with keeper Agu rushing out to kick away, only as far as Harry Elmes, whose shot drifted wide of the post. A Glozier centre was headed over by Elmes, and two successive Tilbury corners were cleared. A Styles inspired move saw Halle cross into the middle, where Simon Parker’s diving header skimmed the post.

A Wales corner was headed over by Halle, and a Wales through pass to Simon Parker saw Simon lob the keeper for the third time in the match, the ball this time going onto the roof of the net. So a three nil win, much needed, if only to end the run of four defeats.

Match Sponsor: Haart

Weather Conditions: 8 degs. C., Rain & Misty, Wind Speed 10 mph falling to 5 mph

Match Officials: Referee - Mr. S. Rubery, Assistants - Mr. T. Goddard and Mr. T. Brooks

Match duration: F/H 48 mins. 14 secs., S/H 48 mins. 47 secs.