Saturday 1st December 2007
MARGATE  2  HORNCHURCH  1
MFC – Scott Chalmers-Stevens - Ryan Peters – Jimmy Jackson – Luke Coleman – Louis Smith – Robin Trott – Steve McKimm © - Keiron Morris – James Pinnock – Rob Haworth – Ryan Martin
Subs – Mark Watson – Matt Bowles – Paul Axon – Nick Moir – Jamie Lovegrove

HFC – Dale Brightley – Jordan Bostock – Elliot Styles – John Purdie © - Richard Goddard – Donny Barnard – Dean Green – Des Boateng – Kris Lee – Harry Elmes – Steve Wales
Subs – Simon Parker for Elmes 67 – Richard Halle – Amos Foyewa - Andy Tomlinson - Mark Janney for Kris Lee 73

Scorers – Rob Haworth 76 (M) – Mark Janney 82p (H) – Luke Coleman 89p
Bookings – Barnard 39 (H) – Trott 82 (M) – Brightley 83 (H) - Goddard 87 (H) – McKimm 90+2 (M) – Peters 90+2 (M)
Attendance 447 – 150 from Hornchurch
Weather – 10 degrees and sunny at start, then rain, 6 degrees and overcast at finish, thunderstorm nearby, wind speed 25 mph
Officials – I Regan with P Wright and M Sarah
Duration – 50.30 + 50.10

MARGATE  2  HORNCHURCH  1
Large areas of sand at one end, deep puddles at the other, and not a blade of grass anywhere. On closer inspection, this proved to be the beach with the tide out. The pitch itself was green enough, but had a slope on it more akin to a ski slope., and was very saturated. Hartsdown Park has changed little, the only noticeable difference being the main stand, which is now demolished, and replaced by a series of portacabins, and leaving a three sided ground. The far end has now lost all its old terracing and is now completely flat. Transfer to the stand was an incredibly expensive £2.

Danny Glozier still under suspension, and Frankie Curley suspended for one match after collecting five bookings. Donny Barnard into the starting line up. Urchins kicked towards the far end of the ground in the first half. A good start, Barnard up to Elmes, whose run was halted by Jackson, who gave away the corner. Wales overhit his kick and Coleman cleared. A second corner followed, Wales again putting the ball too far over, the strong wind no doubt playing a factor. A long high ball from Bostock reached Elmes, and only a desperate punch from keeper Chalmers-Stevens saved the day for Margate. Lee took a neat pass from Purdie and raced away, being chopped down about 30 yards out. Wales took the free kick and the ball was half cleared, back to Wales, whose first time shot skimmed the bar. Margate looked dangerous when attacking along the wings, with both full backs only too keen to overlap, and when Jackson switched play to the other side for Coleman, it took a well timed tackle by Styles to clear, at the cost of a corner, which Jackson came over to take, and Coleman blazed his shot high over the bar, scattering the seagulls soaring overhead.

Dean Green almost broke through but was fouled, and from Wales’ free kick, Goddard powered in his header, which hit Smith and came back out, the loud appeal for hand ball from the away support being ignored. Kris Lee went racing away on the left, but was brought down by Peters, who escaped with a mere lecture when a card seemed the only possible choice. Wales took the free kick and Lee’s header was tipped over the bar by Chalmers-Stevens for – a goal kick.

Wales to Boateng, and on to Elmes, whose cross almost reached the unmarked Lee, only for Coleman to intercept. Boateng almost broke through, but was tripped, and play continued, the ball running on to Lee, who fired over the var. Elmes won another corner, and again Wales overhit the ball, which went out of play over the portacabin side of the ground. Keeper Chalmers-Stevens then fumbled a cross from Boateng and Lee pounced, but the shot deflected for a corner, which Wales took, the ball bouncing off the bar and falling to Elmes, whose shot was deflected for Urchins fifth corner of the match.

Towards half time Margate came much more into the match, and a Coleman inspired move found Pinnock, whose shot was well saved by Brightley. A good run by Peters saw his centre headed over by Morris, and Brightley made another good save, this time from Haworth’s shot. Brightley was in action for the third time in as many minutes when he saved from Pinnock, after good work by Jackson.

During the interval a thunderstorm threatened from afar, and the wind increased in intensity, with Urchins kicking into the rising gusts. And in the clubhouse, Tina still had several hundred mince pies left over and was trying to force feed anyone who wore red and white.

Margate looked a much better team in the second half, with the near gale behind them. Goddard had to head out for a corner in the first minute, the ball swirling back over his head. Jackson took the kick and a spectacular overhead kick by Pinnock was saved by Brightley, who quickly threw the ball to Goddard, who found Wales, who raced away, made over 70 yards, and then hammered in his shot which skimmed the bar. At the other end again, and Morris saw his shot turned out by Goddard for a corner, Jackson taking it, the ball seeming to go out of play on the other side, only for the referee to award another corner. A high centre by the overlapping Peters was Pinnock head on to Morris, who hit the ball high over the bar, the ball last being seen heading towards Dreamland. A solo run by Dean Green looked dangerous until Jackson tackled, and a long gale assisted free kick from Chalmers-Stevens saw Pinnock fire over the bar. An equally long into-the-wind kick by Brightley saw Elmes touch on to Lee, whose snap shot went wide.

Another corner by Jackson was headed away by Purdie, and then Simon Parker, just on the field, found Wales on the edge of the area, and his shot was blocked by Trott. A good run by Kris Lee on the left saw him fire in a shot from a narrow angle into the side netting, with an unmarked Jordan Bostock waiting for the pass which never came, right in front of goal, and then Urchins appeared to have scored. Wales up to Simon Parker who homed in on goal, and his shot skimmed off of Chalmers-Stevens, hit the post, and the Urchins supporters behind the goal were convinced it was over, as was Simon and just about other Hornchurch player at that end, but the ball rolled along the line and was hacked away by Peters, the referee deciding it had not crossed the line. Purdie played it straight back, Wales shot, Chalmers-Stevens fumbled, but Smith cleared, and the ball was played upfield, and ROB HAWORTH got in a half shot, which beat Brightley, hit the post and slowly rolled along the line and into the net at the other side of the goal.

Urchins stormed back, and Janney raced in from the left, and was hacked down by Trott, who was only shown the yellow card. MARK JANNEY stepped up to neatly slot the penalty home. Margate were then awarded a corner in controversial circumstances, when Brightley kicked the ball upfield, only for Dale to get booked and a corner awarded, but Brightley held the ball as it was swerved over. And then, an excellent tackle by Goddard, a yard outside the area, only for the referee to point to the spot and book Goddard. Protests were ignored and LUKE COLEMAN stepped up to fire the penalty home, despite Brightley getting his hands to the ball.

In the six minutes added on for stoppages and time wasting, two more Margate players were booked but despite incessant pressure, Margate held out.

Weather Conditions: 10 Degs. C. falling to 6 Degs. C, Sunny then rain, Wind Speed = 25 mph

Match Officials: Referee - Mr. I. Regan, Assistants - Mr. P. Wright and Mr.S. Sarah

Match duration: F/H 50 mins. 30 secs., S/H 50 mins. 10 secs.