URCHINS LOSE AT HAMPTON & RICHMOND

A George Purcell goal is not enough to avoid defeat

Saturday 21-March-2015
HAMPTON & RICHMOND BOROUGH 2 HORNCHURCH 1

HR – Seb Brown – James Richmond – Mark Onyemah – Moussa Diarra – Kieran Murphy © - Dean Sinclair – Kevant Serbony– Ryan Newman (Jake Rose 39) – Duncan Culley – Tom Collins (Matt Orage 83) – Jamie Calvin (Jerome Federico 62)
Subs – George Wells – Tom Jelley

HFC – Sam Mott – Courtney Homans – Chris Bourne – Elliot Styles © - Danny Johnson – Frankie Curley – Joey May (Thomas Gogo 71) – Billy Roast – Tobi Joseph (Martin Tuohy 69) – George Purcell – Reece Beckles-Richards (Kieran Bishop 80)
Subs – Billy Coyne – Callum Chafer

Scorers – Diarra 2 (HR) – Purcell 45+2 (H) – Culley 79 (H)
Bookings – Bourne 83 (H) - Culley 90+5 (HR) – Gogo 90+5 (H)
Attendance 401
Officials – Jonathan Cresswick - John Sandlin - Carl Whay.
None of the match officials have been involved with any previous Hornchurch match.
Duration – 47.12 + 49.45
Weather – cloudy, 7 degrees

HAMPTON & RICHMOND BOROUGH 2 HORNCHURCH 1

For the second match in succession, Hornchurch conceded an early goal. When, after less than two minutes, James Richmond floated a free kick towards the far post, where Moussa Diarra touched the ball into the net.

Neither team could create many scoring chances, and for Hornchurch the first opportunity came when a George Purcell free kick, ten yards outside the area, crashed against the defensive wall and was cleared.

Hampton had few opportunities, though Jamie Calvin missed from close range when he placed his first time shot over the bar.

Purcell had another chance when he ran on to a pass from Reece Beckles-Richards, and his hard drive from outside the area was blocked by a defender.

For a time Hornchurch applied steady pressure on the home defence but the best they could manage was a corner, and this was followed by another corner when a Joey May free kick deflected off a defender.

Hampton had a good opportunity when Kevant Serbony ran clear, and through the middle, but he miskicked and the ball went harmlessly out for a goal kick.

Purcell had another chance when he chased a long clearance, but Kieran Murphy was able to kick clear as Purcell was about to shoot.

In stoppage time, Tobi Joseph was brought down, and George Purcell fired the free kick home from thirty yards to level the score.

For the first twenty minutes of the second half Hornchurch were forced to defend, but the best Hampton could manage was a shot from Tom Collins, which went several yards wide of the goal, and a free kick from Jake Rose, which went high and over the bar.

In between home keeper rose well to hold a swerving free kick from Joey May.

Hampton then increased the pressure on the Hornchurch goal and Mott made an excellent save from Duncan Culley, who was first to react to a cross from the left wing.

Hampton won a corner and Frankie Curley deflected the resulting header out for another corner, which fell neatly for Diarra, whose header went wide of the post.

Martin Tuohy came on for Tobi Joseph, and two minutes later Thomas Gogo replaced Joey May, who received an injury, although play continued for some time before the referee allowed the physio to come onto the pitch.

Sam Mott saved twice in a matter of minutes from a Kieran Murphy header, as the home side continued to enjoy the better of the attacking play, but Hornchurch had an excellent chance to score when Courtney Homans took a quick throw, Beckles-Richards touched the ball back to Gogo, who opened up the home defence with a cross field pass to give Billy Roast a clear run at goal, but his shot was high and over the bar.

A minute later Tuohy went close with a shot on the turn, which Seb Brown did well to save, and the ball was then played up the field and out to the right wing, and the centre was headed home by Duncan Culley for what proved to be the winning goal.

Kieran Bishop came on for Reece-Beckles, but Hornchurch made little headway against a well organised defence, and Hampton had no difficulty in holding out to take the points.