Saturday 26th April 2008
HORNCHURCH  1  WIMBLEDON 1
HFC – Billy McMahon – Frankie Curley – Elliot Styles – Michael Ramkin – Scott Curley – Danny Glozier – Des Boateng – Michael Brothers – Kris Lee – Ross Wall – Dean Green
Subs – Richard Goddard – Mark Janney for Scott Curley 50 – Donny Barnard for Green 77 – Harry Elmes for Lee 80 – Dale Brightly

WFC – Andy Little © - Luke Garrard – Michael Haswell – Luke Pigden – Lewis Christon – Sam Hatton – Steven Ferguson – Danny McGuire – Ramone Rose – Jon Main – Elliot Buchanan
Subs – Chris Hussey – James Pullen – Tony Finn for Rose at half time – Rob Quinn for Hatton 61

Attendance 1342
Weather – sunny 25 degrees, wind speed ten mph
Bookings – none
Officials – C Francis with O Roguez and A Yahiaoui
Duration – 46.14 + 47.09

HORNCHURCH  1  WIMBLEDON 1
No good omens for the Urchins – eight regulars all out and a most unusual looking starting line up, which included starting debuts for Ross Wall, Michael Ramkin and Billy McMahon. Very few good omens for Wimbledon either, for although they did not have the players missing, they had more than a few of their supporters missing, thanks to both C2C and the District Line being out of action, and severe delays in the road works at Upminster Bridge Station. Many of them missed the start, but none the less this was the largest Urchins home league crowd for several years.

Heat wave conditions, and a carnival atmosphere, with both sides already assured of a play off place. For Urchins, they would end fourth no matter what happened, whilst Dons had to hope that Staines slipped up at Billericay.

Spiderman, Batman and the Invincibles turned up, together with a Hell’s Angel showed up, and the two sets of supporters mixed well, although the away following were quickly shown what real support is all about, with Mentalist leading the way with a ten minute version of Harry’s Song.

Urchins kicked towards the windmill end of the ground, and began well, Ross Wall wining a throw on the left, which Brothers propelled forward to Kris Lee, whose hard shot brought a good save from Andy Little. Michael Ramkin settled in quickly in midfield and it was his excellent pass to Kris Lee which looked likely creating the first goal, but Kris, having sped past Christon, then stumbled just as he was about to shoot. Dons looked dangerous in their first attack, when Jon Main broke along the left, and Scott Curley tackled well, to clear the ball upfield. A long throw from Michael Brothers to Kris Lee was nodded on for Des Boateng, whose first time drive rose just a fraction too high and skimmed the bar. A corner from Danny Glozier found Wall, whose shot was deflected out for a second corner, which Glozier again took and Little came out well to hold. Wall again, popping up on the left, and his centre was headed behind by Pigden. Glozier again took the corner and Christon headed out for another corner, which Glozier again took, and Little held despite close pressure from Lee and Wall.

Dons were largely confined to defence, but looked dangerous when they came forward. Main did well to outpace Scott Curley and swing the ball over into the middle, where Ferguson got to the ball first and Billy McMahon made a fine save from the resultant shot, the ball rebounding back to Rose, whose shot was well saved once again by McMahon. Dons continued to apply pressure, Main crossing and Ramkin conceding another corner. Hatton played the ball short to McGuire and Brothers came in with a timely tackle. A long cross from Glozier then saw keeper Little just beat Brothers to the ball.

Frankie Curley to Ross Wall, and Garrard tackled to give away a throw, which Brothers hurled into the middle, Green touched on to Wall who flicked on to Kris Lee, whose shot was inches wide, although the flag went up for a dubious offside anyway. Urchins took the lead when DEAN GREEN cracked home his seventh goal of the season with a great shot from the edge of the area. Urchins could have gone in two up when Wall sent Glozier away on the left, and Danny was pulled down. From the free kick, taken by Glozier, Dean Green nipped in unmarked and cracked the ball inches wide.

At half time Max gave away the biggest jackpot of the season, £145, and the last of the club badges were snapped up by eager Dons supporters. Urchins started the second half well, Green hitting in a hard shot which Little saved. Dons rarely threatened, although they looked dangerous when they did, and from one move Buchanan made ground and centred, for Frankie Curley to play the ball away far upfield, where Wall ran on and forced a corner. Mark Janney, just on for Scott Curley, curled the ball over to Boateng – wearing his fourth shirt of the match, the previous three all having to be replaced as they had blood on them – and Des touched on to Green who touched sideways to Brothers, whose shot was saved by Little.

Styles then found Wall who turned the ball out to Kris Lee, whose cross rolled tantalising across the goalmouth, with no one close enough to get the touch over the line. Ramkin then slotted through to Lee, whose shot was well saved by a very much in form Little. At the other end McMahon punched clear from Ferguson’s long throw, the ball going out for a corner, and then Dons levelled when Buchanan played the ball over from the right wing, and JON MAIN’s first time hooked shot sped into the net. A Main free kick cannoned out off the defensive wall, and Urchins then dominated the remainder of the play. The best chance fell to Kris Lee, who raced past two defenders, only for Little to make the save of the match. A Wall run saw Christon get in a good tackle, and the ball rolled back to Kris Lee, whose rapid run through the middle ended when Little came out to block the goal bound shot to deflect the ball just around the post. Janney swung the corner over and Little saved again. Barnard and Elmes, both just on the pitch, combined to send Wall away, and Garrard did well to tackle. In stoppage time Brothers found Barnard, and thence on to Janney, whose shot was touched out for a corner, which Brothers took and Little once again held.

The news that Staines had won at Billericay means that Urchins now have to travel to Wimbledon in the play offs.

HORNCHURCH  1  WIMBLEDON 1

NLP report
Hornchurch were without eight of their first team regulars, and gave starting debuts to Ross Wall, Michael Ramkin and Billy McMahon. Many Wimbledon supporters missed the start due to severe delays on the underground line. Hornchurch started well, Kris Lee’s first time shot almost eluding Andy Little, and a Michael Ramkin through pass to Lee almost produced a goal, until Lee stumbled as he was about to shoot. For Dons, Jon Main looked dangerous, and it took a timely tackle by Scott Curley to prevent him getting his shot in. Most of the play was confined to midfield, although Urchins pushed forward and slowly began to get on top, eventually taking the lead when DEAN GREEN’s shot from the edge of the area screamed into the net. Ross Wall won two corners in succession, with Luke Pike clearing the first and Lewis Christon the second.

In almost heat wave temperatures, the second half was at a leisurely pace with both teams seemingly content to take the play off places which were now guaranteed. Dons defended well, keeper Little saving from Boateng and then from Green, whilst a Lee cross went begging in front of goal. Dons levelled the score midway through the half with one of their few attacks, Elliot Buchanan swinging over a long ball from the right side, and JON MAIN crashed a vicious drive past the diving McMahon. Urchins gave Mark Janney a run out and it was his pass to Kris Lee which almost brought the deciding goal, after Lee had main thirty yards through the middle, only to be thwarted by a magnificent save by Little. Urchins pressed hard for the deciding goal, and shots from Elmes, Brothers and Wall were all saved, as Dons held out against strong pressure.

E/V 3/5 – Player of Match Michael Brothers (HFC)

Man of the Match : Elliot Styles Sponsored by: Sir Gary Hall

Match Sponsor: Motorised

Weather Conditions: 25 Degs. C., Sunny, Wind Speed = 10 mph

Match Officials: Referee - Mr. C. Francis, Assistants - Mr. O. Roguez and Mr. A. Yahiaoui

Match duration: F/H 46 mins. 14 secs., S/H 47 mins. 09 secs.