Saturday 19th April 2008
TONBRIDGE  1  HORNCHURCH 1

TA - Matt Reed – Ray Powell © – Matt Lovell – TommyTyne  - Simon Glover – James Donovan –John Westcott – Michael Phillips – Akwasi Edusei – Carl Rook - Fraser Logan
Subs – Scott Kinch for Phillips at half time – Kirk Watts –Micky Collins – Phil Sharkey – John Wilfurt

HFC- Dale Brightly – Donny Barnard - Jim McFarlane –JohnPurdie © - Richard Goddard  - AndyTomlinson – Des Boateng - Mark Janney – Kris Lee - Simon Parker – Dean Green
Subs – Harry Elmes – Michael Brothers for Green 76 - DannyGlozier for Tomlinson 14 – Scott Curley for Barnard 49 -  Ross Wall

Scorers – Michael Phillips 27 (T) – Dean Green 45 (H)
Attendance 752 – 150 from Hornchurch
Weather – 6 degrees, overcast, drizzle, wind speed 5 mph
Booking – Glover 67 (T)
Duration – 46.27 + 49.06
Officials – K Haines with D Spainand E Lyons

TONBRIDGE  1  HORNCHURCH 1

Overcast and continuous drizzle, pitch very soft, very bumpy. Two identical terraces at each end, one called the North Mezzanine  and the other called the South Mezzanine – no terracing at all down the side, and a large stand on the far side, with a few seats in the middle, waiting for upgrading to all seating in the summer. For Tonbridge, this was their big day, their biggest of the season, they needed to win to stay in the play off places, and their crowd was way above normal.

Urchins, missing several key players, and in front of a very noisy crowd, were penned back at the start as the home side, kicking towards the North Mezzanine end, stormed forward. Westcott swung a corner over, and Donovan’s prodded shot went out for a second corner, with the home crowd screaming for a penalty – no idea why, nor had the referee, who correctly awarded the corner. Westcott swung it over again and Barnard cleared, but back to Westcott whose crossed was headed out by Tomlinson for a third corner. Over it came again, Powell went to shoot, and Simon Parker got in a timely tackle.Urchins took time to settle, and it was Parker who made the first opening, sliding the ball through to Boateng, who was tackled by Donovan. Disaster struck when Andy Tomlinson landed heavily was had to be replaced by Danny Glozier, who had a lot to do against the dual thrust of Powell and Westcott. A Kris Lee centre was well held by Reed, and Tonbridge again took the initiative, Powell’s cross finding Logan, who hooked his shot well wide of the goal.

Urchins seemed to have the ideal chance to open the score when Simon Parker ran through on to a long Brightly kick and with only the keeper to beat, was pulled back by the linesman flagging for a somewhat dubious offside. Urchins appeared to have weathered the onslaught, and began to come forward, Boateng to Lee, who won a corner, which Janney fired over, far too low, and the ball was booted away. And then came Tonbridge’s goal. A fairly harmless ball in from the left, with two defenders not really moving quick enough, and the ball ran to MICHAEL PHILLIPS, ten years outside the area, and his shot appeared to be equally stoppage until the ball dipped, hit a bumpy patch right in front of Dale Brightly, and bobbed into the net.

Another corner, taken by Logan,was dealt with easily enough and at last the home onslaught was contained, as Urchins came back strongly in the last period of the first half. Few chances were created, though Janney looked to be in good position until he was brought down. Janney took the free kick himself, but hit the ball too high and over the bar. Tonbridge withstood some heavy pressure and looked like holding out, until right at the end of the first half, when Danny Glozier won a corner on the left, which was played short and he hoisted the ball over and across the goal, where Dean Green’s shot cannoned out for another corner. Janney played it short to Glozier and he touched back to Janney, whose long centre appeared to be going too far, until Richard Goddard reached he ball and played it back into the middle. Keeper Reed went to catch the ball but instead caught nothing as DEAN GREEN got there first to nod the ball home, to send the massed Urchins following into wild delight. There was still time for Tonbridge to rush upfield, where Lovell planted a free kick into the middle and Logan’s hard drive was well held by Brightly.

Half time, everyone changed ends, and the drizzle continued.The home side made a surprise substitution when they took off the dangerous Phillips. Tonbridge began the half strongly once again, Adusei, racing through the middle and being engulfed by McFarlane and Purdie, who forced the ball away for a corner, which Westcott sent over and Barnard cleared. This was the last contribution Donny made as he had to go off, and Scott Curley came on, to play in midfield. Kinch headed wide from Lovell’s deep cross, whilst Urchins replied when Green found Janney who in turn slipped the ball on to Parker, who was tackled by Kinch as he was about to shoot.

Tonbridge again, a short free kick to Westcott, a long run into the goal mouth and another corner, taken by Westcott and headed away by McFarlane. Powell powered down the wing, and crossed for Logan, who headed wide of the far post. Another corner, Logan sent in an inswinger, and Goddard headed out, Lovell played it back again from the left and Curley cleared for a corner, which Logan took and McFarlane headed away. A Lovell free kick brought an excellent save out of Brightly, who tipped the ball over the bar, Logan’s corner coming over dangerously, and Purdie again to the rescue, for another corner, this time on the right, which was played short to Adusei, whose vicious drive was headed away by Purdie for yet another corner. Logan took the kick this time and Kinch headed over. It seemed to be a constant pressure, but McFarlane, Purdie and Goddard lapped it all up, and Urchins began to come forward again. Lee found space up front, played the ball back inside to Michael Brothers, whose shot cleared the cross bar, and by now Tonbridge could do little to resist, despite Powell and Rook both moving forward to give a five player forward line. The best they could do was win a corner, which Westcott took and inevitably McFarlane cleared. In the final minute of stoppage time, with Tonbridge looking tired and weary, Curley opened the play up and the ball found Kris Lee, who rounded Glover and Kris fired in a hard shot which Reed did well to beat away, but only as far as Simon Parker, who somehow screwed his shot wide of the goal, the final whistle going almost immediately.

Weather Conditions: 6 Degs. C., Drizzle, Wind Speed = 5 mph

Match Officials: Referee - Mr. K. Haines, Assistants - Mr. D. Spain and Mr. E. Lyons

Match duration: F/H 46 mins. 27 secs., S/H 49 mins. 06 secs.